Recommendation 7: Create a campus wide oral history project which will include a

Recommendation 7: Create a campus-wide oral history project which will include a systemic collection of the “stories” of Trinity University inclusive of the leadership, Board of Trustee members, faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents, and other Trinity constituents about their experiences at the University.

Rationale: Every constituent has a unique story, which is valuable to preserve and learn from as a point of an inclusive history. Analysis of the collective oral history of personal experiences will reflect patterns of strengths and challenges as well as success and failures. Experiences of underrepresented constituencies can display how diversity and inclusion can be enhanced at Trinity.

Stakeholders: Alumni, Board of Trustees, Faculty, Staff, Students, Community constituents

Recommended Actions

Determine departments to collaborate on the project and assign a representative for each department. Determine how to gather and analyze oral histories. Gather oral histories. Transcribe and evaluate oral histories to determine trends and patterns.

Performance Indicators

Preliminary evaluation complete of all departments to determine which are most appropriate to contribute to the project. Each selected department will designate a representative; if the representative is a student, the student would receive a credit hour or payment for their time. An action plan completed to determine methodology for solicitation and to gather oral histories as well as who will transcribe and analyze the stories. Reports will demonstrate how many oral histories have been collected and the effectiveness of the project. Findings will be reported annually.

Responsible Parties

Vice President for Academic Affairs; Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development Center for Experiential Learning & Career Success

Vice President for Academic Affairs; Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development Team composed of representatives from each selected department

Vice President for Academic Affairs; Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development

Vice President for Academic Affairs; Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development, Vice President of Academic Technology

Establish an endowed archive of oral histories to be maintained on an ongoing basis. Annually, select stories to be published in a coffeetable format by TU Press. Books can be given to donors or recipients of honors or sold. The archive will be established and available in a designated place on campus. Books will be published each year. Vice President for Academic Affairs; Director of Library, Trinity University Press

Suggested Timeline:

● Determining the collaborating departments and assigning representatives to the team should begin FY23, and the project team should be assembled by January 2024. ● The action plan should be developed by the end of the spring semester of FY24. ● Gathering the oral histories will be ongoing. The first group of oral histories should be sent for transcription/evaluation at the conclusion of FY24 ● The first compilation report on trends and patterns should be made December 2025. ● Books should be completed in publication by the conclusion of 2025. ● The historical archive should be established by FY25.