ECU community asks questions about diversity framework

Topics discussed at the provost's town meetings on diversity ranged from changes at the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center to health benefits for the gay partners of employees.

The three meetings, held in April by Provost William Swart, gave faculty, staff and students a chance to learn more about Chancellor Muse's April 3 announcement of the university's new diversity framework, which includes the establishment of the Office of Diversity and Equity.

"What exists is a name and a framework," Swart said at one of the meetings. "Our purpose here is to get the university community at the ground level to define the office."

The official objectives of the framework include the creation of a more conducive climate for diversity; recruiting and retaining a diverse student body and workforce; and the integration of diversity into the university's organizational structure.

The Office of Diversity and Equity will include Disability Support, Intercultural Affairs, the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. Taffye Benson Clayton, ECU's EEO and Affirmative Action Officer, is the interim director of the office. Swart stressed throughout the meetings a goal to increase the number of applicants for student, faculty and staff positions.

"Our primary strategy to increase the number of minorities on campus is an aggressive recruitment that will increase the number of applicants," he said.

A minority undergraduate and graduate school recruiter will help in this area, Swart said. Other questions concerning the upcoming changes included:

• The Office of Diversity and Equity's role in creating and reviewing curriculum.

  "Courses and academic matters are in the areas of faculty," Swart said. "The office will not be directly involved in course development."

  At the student meeting, audience members asked why the university does not offer an African American studies class and a Native American studies class.

  Swart said the classes would be offered if 25 or more students committed to taking the course. "We will offer that course, but we also expect there to be enrollment," he said.

  Swart said without enrollment, the university would end up paying a professor for not teaching a course. Two sign-up sheets circulated in the room to collect names and e-mail addresses of interested students. The names were given to Swart.

• Swart was asked about the university's role in teaching the extended ECU community about diversity matters. He said he hoped ECU's actions would have ripple effect in Greenville and elsewhere. "One basic message about diversity is respect for every member of the community regardless of race, position, age," he said. "Respect begins with everyone Ñ students and staff and faculty."

• Two questions were related to extending employee benefits to alternate family structures such as gay or unmarried partnerships.

  EEO officer Clayton said a revision of the benefits is a state issue and that ECU does not have a direct say in the matter.

  "We have been sensitive to the issue and certainly conversational," she said. "But we as an institution can't dictate benefits."

• Swart was asked if the new office would help establish more muti-cultural groups.

  "It is not our role to create groups for you," he said. "Certainly we will be very supportive, but this is not something we can impose on you."

• One faculty member asked about quantitative goals relating to race and sex for those employed at ECU. "We have no specific numbers, no specific goals," Swart said. "We want to reach far and wide."

• Swart was asked about the role of the Ledonia S. Wright Cultural Center in the Office of Diversity. The office is now headed by Dr. Lathan Turner, former assistant vice chancellor for student life and the director of Intercultural Student Affairs. Turner replaced Nell Lewis, who took a position as Outreach Coordinator at Joyner Library.

  Swart said the center will serve as another resource for diversity.

  Students questioned Swart about Lewis' job change. Swart said he could not. because of state law, discuss personnel issues with the group.

• One student questioned a comment by Swart that the ultimate goal of the Office of Diversity and Equality is for it to be obsolete.

  "If the office creates a culture of diversity than diversity will be a matter of fact and it won't need to be centralized," he said.

   

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