Diversity

Dr. Eida Berrio, Dean of Community Life and Diversity, will coordinate the preparation of the diversity self-study and the composition of Chapter Two. Dean Berrio is beginning her third full year in her position and had already collected a good deal of information for this chapter (e.g., the Report of the Diversity Design Team that created the rationale for her position; the results of a day-long retreat on diversity attended by more than 200 faculty and staff on July 12, 2001; and the results of two recent student surveys supported by the Teagle Foundation and the U. S. Department of Education). The diversity challenge involves recruiting and retaining students, faculty and staff of color in significant numbers, improving conditions on campus for embracing difference, and defining what we mean by "diversity." This topic is of special interest to President Thomforde, who will be closely engaged in planning activities related to this challenge. The arrival of a new Dean and a new President, together with the momentum from the past year, will work in favor of this special emphasis.