UNCG Recognized for Its Diversity Commitment, Accomplishments

Contact: (336) 334-5371

Posted 10-7-08

GREENSBORO, NC — The University has been recognized by a national organization for its commitment to advancing diversity on the campus.

The award was presented by Minority Access, Inc. at the Ninth National Role Models Conference, held Sept. 27 in Alexandria, Va. on the theme of "Coalescing to Reduce Disparities and Increase Diversity.” The non-profit firm was the conference organizer, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“This recognition affirms our ongoing commitment to diversity at UNCG,” said UNCG Provost David H. Perrin. “We strive to make diversity part of the core academic mission of the university, and to foster an inclusive environment for all students, staff, and faculty regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.”

Thirty-six campuses were recognized, including two other state institutions, UNC Chapel Hill and N.C. State University. Among the other universities were Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Syracuse, Ohio State, Purdue and Southern California.

Dr. C.P. Gause, faculty member in the School of Education who is co-chair of the UNCG Faculty Senate’s Inclusive Community Task Force, accepted the award, a framed certificate. A bound, paperback collection of institutional diversity statements, including UNCG’s statement, was distributed at the ceremony. Attending with Gause was UNCG Vice Provost Alan Boyette.

“This award is quite significant,” said Gause. “There were over 100 institutions across the United States nominated for this award and only 30 were honored. This speaks volumes with regard to our commitment to providing opportunities for under-represented groups to engage in higher education and this also speaks to the importance of the Inclusive Community Initiative that was launched this year.”

Dr. Rebecca Adams, sociology professor who is chair of the UNCG Faculty Senate this year, said, "Although we are delighted to be recognized as one of America's top colleges and universities that exemplify diversity, there is always room to improve. Our new goal is to move beyond being a diverse community to become a truly inclusive one. The Faculty Senate Inclusive Community Task Force is hard at work on this task.”

The task force has the following goals for 2008-2009:

• Identify new ways to help UNCG become a more inclusive community and formulate recommendations to propose for inclusion in the UNCG Strategic Plan 2009-2014;
• Develop a definition of diversity and inclusiveness to be endorsed by the faculty and staff senates and posted on the university website;
• Work with the Campus Unity Council to conduct a three-year follow-up of the campus climate survey they conducted previously;
• Formulate a plan to coordinate and support all programs that contribute to campus inclusiveness; and
• Develop a position description for a Director of Campus Inclusiveness and Diversity.

Minority Access, Inc. is cooperating with the Office of Minority Health, and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help close the health disparities gap, a goal to which NIH has accorded the highest priority. Its goal is to increase the participation of minorities in biomedical research.Visit the website at http://www.minorityaccess.org.