Office of Diversity Initiatives 2010 - 2011 Annual Report Valarie Greene King, Ph.D., Director
The mission of the Office of Diversity Initiatives is to assist the University of Central Florida in reaching its strategic goal to become more inclusive and diverse. Much of our work is done in collaboration with other units to provide diversity education and training, classroom and workshop presentations, and cultural and leadership programming to enhance the cultural competence of our students, our workforce, and the communities we serve. All of our projects and programs support the university's diversity goal, and efforts are made to support and reflect other UCF goals, our metropolitan research mission, and our commitment to a viable city-state. Areas of Focus for 2010 – 2011 • Monitor and promote implementation of the UCF Diversity Plan Five Areas of Focus • Engage in a comprehensive self-study of the ODI with recommendations for the future • Collaborate with units and divisions to address the needs of selected student groups Areas of Focus for 2010-2011: Selected Highlights (1) Diversity Plan Five Areas of Focus Organizational Structures • Diversity statements were collected from 21 of the 27 divisions and units that were included in the initial phase of developing and implementing diversity plans. • Ten additional units within SDES were identified and contacted to participate in planning and implementing diversity plans. They were: Counseling Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Housing and Residence Life, Office of Student Involvement, Recreation and Wellness Center, Student Disability Services, Regional Campuses, Upward Bound, Student Leadership Development, and Multicultural Academic and Support Services. • A relationship was established with Global Perspectives to co-sponsor selected events that highlighted aspects of diversity and social justice. • A partnership with the UCF Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning was established to generate greater involvement in diversity education, research, and special projects. Dr. Carolyn Walker Hopp, College of Education, will serve as a fellow during the 2011-2012 academic year to support this initiative. Recruitment and Retention • The relationship with the division of Academic Affairs was continued in support of the Provost’s Diversity Enhancement Program. Campus Climate • The committee structure and framework were established to conduct a comprehensive study of the UCF climate. This process is slated to occur during 2011-2012. Outreach and Engagement • The Florida Diversity and Leadership Conference was co-sponsored by ODI and hosted at UCF on January 14, 2011. Featured speakers included Donna Brazile, Democratic Political Strategist and former Connecticut Governor, John Rowland. 1
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The T Leadershiip Enhancem ment Program (LEP) was continued wiith Embry-Riiddle Aeronaautical University. U Drr. Valarie Kiing and Carm men Afonso managed thee program for UCF and C Cindy Oakley-Paulik O was the man nager for ERA AU. Also, disscussions werre held with Stetson Univversity an nd Valencia College C regard ding joining the t leadershipp consortium in 2011-20122. The T President’’s Multiculturral Advisory Council was expanded byy including eex officio mem mbers reepresenting seelected UCF offices o and orrganizations. Dr. Valarie King and Kaatie Pomp proovided leeadership and d staff supportt for this efforrt. Michael M Freem man presented d “Building Campuses C off Inclusion in Addressing the Challenges for LGBT L Studentts: What We Don’t Do, May M Kill Them m,” as a part of the Matter of Life & D Death: Su uicide Preven ntion Confereence for College Campusses, Daytona Beach, FL. He also.facillitated “P Power of Lan nguage” for Alcohol A and other Drug P Peer Educatorrs; Deliveredd a train-the-ttrainer prrogram for Allies A at Semin nole State Co ollege, Sanforrd, FL.; and ppresented “Pow wer, Privilegee, and In nternalized Oppression O in n Building an nd Sustainingg Inclusive C Classrooms,”” to the Teaccher’s In nstitute, Holocaust Memorrial Resource and Educatioon Center. Barbara B Thom mpson was inv vited to be a founding meember of The Holocaust M Memorial Ressource an nd Education n Center’s An nti-Bullying Steering S comm mmittee, and sshe served ass a presenter at the Florida Assocciation of Teeacher Educaators’ (F.A.T T.E.) regionall conference. She was aalso a paarticipant on Siemens Diveersity Best Prractices Comm munity Panel.
Education n and Schola arship Education n, training, and a scholarsh hip activities occupy a pprominent roole in the O Office of Divversity Initiativess’ operation and a continue to be one off our most suuccessful venntures. Our ddiversity educcators, Barbara Thompson T an nd Michael Frreeman, faciliitated the maajority of the diversity traiining sessionns. Dr. Valarie King, K ODI direector and Tam mara Hall, assistant directoor of Purchassing and Diveersity in Conttracts, provided workshops that focused d on diversiity and leaddership deveelopment. Yaara Asi, proogram coordinato or, provided support s for th he full range of o education aand training aactivities.
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Over O the past five years, th here has been n a 472% inccrease in parrticipation in our education and trraining prograam. This refleects a rise in the t number off participants from 1436 inn FY 2006-20007 to 82 212 in FY 20 010-2011.There were also substantial s inncreases in thee number of w workshop (froom 59 to o 308) and thee number of topics t (from 21 to 121). T The followingg charts refleect the increasses by yeear in each off these catego ories:
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Our focuss on education n and training g included thirrty-five sessioons held at sixx regional cam mpuses.
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The Office of Diverrsity Initiativ ves sponsored d the Diverssity Track oof the 2011 Summer Faaculty Developm ment Conferen nce that was themed t “Courrse-Level Infu fusion of Culttural Competeencies.” This track, coordinateed by Barbarra Thompson n, provided a forum for 229 scholars, ffrom 5 colleges and SDE ES, to transform m courses by infusing “co ore” cultural competenciees into designnated courses within the UCF curriculum m. A speciall curriculum transformatio on session fo or SLS instruuctors was fa facilitated by Michael Freeeman during th he Summer Faculty Dev velopment Conference. C T This session featured “M Micromessagges of Communiication and their t Impact on Team Peerformance aand Student S Success.” Hee also presennted a workshop p, “Building and a Sustainin ng an Inclusiv ve UCF Cam mpus for LGB BTQ Studentss” as a part oof the 2010 SDE ES/FCTL Win nter Conferen nce. There weere 12 attendeees. Below arre charts refllecting Summ mer Faculty Developmennt Conferencee participatioon by collegee and departmen nt.
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A cooperative training initiative with Student Development and Enrollment Services was launched to enhance the diversity-related awareness, knowledge, and skills of approximately 600 SDES team members. This venture resulted in more than 150 individuals participating in the Diversity Learning Series.
(2) Collaborate with units and divisions to address the needs of selected student groups •
The Office of Diversity Initiatives cultivated relationships with the Student Government Association, numerous students groups, and continued to focus on the needs of and services for LGBTQ students. Additionally, the Legacy Leadership and Mentoring Program, coordinated by Lynnsey Hicks, included 15 Hispanic and 50 African American sophomores, juniors, and seniors. During the 2010-2011 academic year, seven scholars graduated and two resigned. Of the graduates, five continued their education at institutions such as DePaul University, University of Central Florida, and Florida Atlantic University. Policies, procedures, and activities were revised to enhance student learning experiences and various workshops were held for Legacy scholars and mentors. “UCF Connects with Jones High School” was Legacy’s most viable service learning activity and received coverage in the April 22, 2011 edition of The Orlando Sentinel.
(3) Engage in a comprehensive self-study of the ODI with recommendations for the future • Deferred to 2011-2012 Other Highlights • ODI received diversity awards from the Beacon Network, Seminole State College, and Student Development and Enrollment Services. Michael Freeman received an SDES “Keeper of the Creed Award,” for his focus on Community. Dr. Valarie King received a “Most Powerful Award,” from the Florida Diversity Council, for her contributions to the field of diversity and inclusion. She was also the Black History Month Speaker for the Nile Foundation and provided diversity-related strategic planning consultations to the organizer of the diversity process for Lakeland and other Polk County communities. • Each year, ODI sponsors two DiversiTeas. One is typically an educational forum and the other focuses on the arts and culture. On September 22, 2010, ODI hosted Helen Greenspun who shared her very compelling account as a Holocaust survivor. This was the most successful DiversiTea in the history of the office with over 200 participants. The presentation was also broadcast to six regional campuses. On March 1, 2011, our second DiversiTea was entitled “Celebrate Turkish Culture” and featured Turkish musicians and food. The DiversiTeas were organized and coordinated by Barbara Thompson with support from Yara Asi. • Last year ODI initiated the contacts and activities that resulted in the UCF Community Veterans History Project. This collaboration with the department of History, Honors College, Library, and several other units, successfully collected histories that were forwarded to the Library of Congress for inclusion in the national VHP archives. This ongoing collaboration is a higher education model that has generated national recognition for UCF. Areas of Focus for 2011– 2012 1. Implement an enhanced assessment process for ODI education and training activities. 2. Continue implementing the UCF Diversity Plan to include but not limited to: a. Veteran-Friendly Campus Campaign b. Anti-Bullying Campaign c. UCF Climate Study 3. Engage in a comprehensive ODI Self-Study 5
The symbol of the Office of Diversity Initiatives is the “Unity Star.” This multifaceted, multidimensional image was inspired by the solitary star that appears above the Pegasus, the University of Central Florida’s official symbol that represents the university’s motto, “Reach for the Stars.” The Unity Star is an illustration of the transformative power and enhanced creativity that occurs when organizations fully utilize diverse perspectives. The Unity Star can be presented in various sizes, colors, shadings, and arrangements symbolizing humankind’s many similarities and differences.
STAFF Valarie Greene King, Ph.D., Director Michael Freeman, Assistant Director Barbara Thompson, Assistant Director Katie Pomp, Administrative Assistant Carmen I. Afonso, Executive Secretary Yara M. Asi, Program Assistant Lynnsey Hicks, LEGACY Coordinator
Office of Diversity Initiatives P.O. Box 160031 Orlando, FL 32816-0031 Phone: (407)-823-6479 Fax: (407)-823-6480 http://www.diversity.ucf.edu