Diversity Committee

In the pursuit of academic excellence, Delta State University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive academic community that fosters productive intellectual exchange while bridging gaps in the differences in the human experience. DSU’s goal is to encourage the contributions of each individual in its learning community by providing venues for multicultural education and training in an environment of mutual respect. Through the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body, faculty, and staff, Delta State exemplifies its understanding and appreciation of the individual fabric that creates the rich tapestry of our global community.

Advisory Committee Members

Advisory Committee Goals

• Launch campus-wide “Diversity Awareness Campaign” to promote multicultural awareness and sensitivity and to increase visibility of Diversity Committee
• Increase/broaden membership of Diversity Committee
• Use more visual communication to promote diversity- posters, displays, website (ongoing)
• Create and implement “Diversity Champions” with recognition going to individual or department who best promotes academic and social inclusiveness across campus
• Develop and implement strategies specifically for recruitment and retention of faculty
• Provide orientation for incoming faculty
• Provide more programming, such as guest speakers and panel discussions, that focus on diversity-related issues
• Provide support for incoming underrepresented faculty working on advanced degrees
• Provide opportunities for faculty, staff and students to enhance their understanding of diversity and of multicultural sensitivity
• Continue diversity workshops for faculty, staff, and student leaders
• Promote curricula to include more opportunities for student engagement in issues of diversity in classroom
• Encourage the university to create the position of Chief Diversity Officer.  The President’s Cabinet identified as one of the university’s strategic directions for the Academic Year 2012-13 the following: Create position of Chief Diversity Officer as the next step in the expansion of this important area of institutional life. The university is seeking to identify funding for this position and discussions are underway about the job description.