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As prognosticators get closer to the reality of the predictions they made two decades ago, some are realizing that their population projections, especially with regard to race and ethnicity, may have been too conservative after all. According to the Education Testing Service, 80 percent of the enrollment growth in higher education between 1995 and 2015 will be Hispanic, Asian-American, and African-American. It is clear that Virginia Tech's student enrollment must begin to reflect these demographic changes now if we as a public university expect to benefit from that growth.
Although population demographics are changing rapidly, social scientists continue to puzzle over the apparently contradictory evidence on the status of and the climate for positive intergroup relations in this country. For example, the National Conference for Community and Justice is about to release its second "Taking America's Pulse" report, which details the nature of America's interracial and interethnic relations today. Among the findings cited in the report are the following:
The data in the "Taking America's Pulse" report mirror to some extent the results of climate surveys conducted here at Virginia Tech, especially the disparity in perceptions among various groups and the far more negative perceptions of respondents from underrepresented groups. A less than supportive and nurturing climate, compounded by very low numbers of students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented groups, makes our efforts to be more inclusive and supportive of a wide variety of groups all the more difficult.
The University Diversity Strategic Plan, initiated in January 1999, is a tool to help us deal with these conditions. It grew directly from a variety of assessment and planning activities designed to determine where we were and where we needed to be with respect to the participation of women, racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups within the university community. (Supporting data and research on the benefits of diversity can be found in Appendices A [Climate and Status Data] and B [Diversity Research - Available in print only].) This plan closely aligns with the Implementation Plan of the Academic Agenda and the university's six strategic directions. We believe it both illuminates and supports the diversity and multicultural aspects of the mission, as well as the core values of the university. (Appendix C [VT Core Values] )
Working with faculty, staff, and students, the Office of Multicultural Affairs sponsored or helped coordinate at least nine universitywide forums and meetings in which status and climate data were shared and recommendations for improvement goals were solicited. Toward the end of this 18-month period, 16 administrative units, including the eight colleges, were invited to develop their own local diversity plans using the five major goals of the University Diversity Strategic Plan as a guide or framework.
In the course of our work, we have endeavored to stimulate an extensive dialogue on the challenges, successes, and benefits of diversity, and the application of multicultural perspectives in our teaching, learning, living, and work activities. In addition to carefully crafting the various tasks associated with each of the strategic plan's five goals, we have set the stage for the identification, development, and/or refinement of important tools and resources needed to assure achievement at the end of the five-year period of the plan. (Appendix D [Tools and Resources - Available in print only])
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the commitment and dedication of hundreds of members of the university family--too many to individually identify here. However, the Office of Multicultural Affairs is grateful for the cooperative and collaborative spirit of all those who helped bring us to this point. The University Diversity Strategic Plan is truly a consensus of our best thinking on how we can create and sustain a quality learning community at Virginia Tech that is not only welcoming to all, but also exemplifies excellence, equity, and effectiveness in all its endeavors.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Dixon, Vice President for Multicultural Affairs
A Message From the President | A Message From the Vice President | Statement of Understandings | Acknowledgements |
Contents | Welcome | Mission and Vision | Goals and Tasks | Climate and Status Data | VT Core Values | Print
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Office of Multicultural Affairs - Virginia Tech 332 Burruss Hall, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0176 |
Telephone: 540-231-1820/TTY 540-231-9460 FAX: 540-231-1818 Email: multicultural@vt.edu Web: http://www.multicultural.vt.edu/ |