Faculty Diversity Committee Annual Report
May 2001
The FDC received four charges from the Senate on 10/23/00. We have organized this report as
a response to each of the four charges:
1. The FDC work with the director of Access Programs to implement the Faculty Support
Committee and the Speaker’s Bureau.
In conjunction with the Academic Dean and the Director of Access Programs the Committee
solicited volunteers and forwarded a list of faculty names to the Dean. Nancy Bristow, Julian
Edgoose, and Helen Nagy currently serve on the Faculty Support Committee; the Support
Committee met during the Spring 2001 semester and produced the attached solicitation for
faculty involvement in Access Programs. We anticipate working with this committee to continue
to encourage faculty involvement and to implement a Speaker’s Bureau. A copy of the initial
announcement of the work of the Faculty Support Committee is attached to this document.
2. The FDC work with the Office of Admission to implement a faculty telephoning project.
This project, which was initiated during the 1999-2000 academic year, invites faculty volunteers to
call prospective students who self-identify as African American. During 2000-2001 thirteen
faculty participated in this program. Although this project is part of the “hard work” of student
recruiting, during the current year attempts were made to limit the calls to prospects from
surrounding geographic areas and to match prospect interest with faculty background. The
committee anticipates another round of telephoning during the 2001-2001 academic year.
3. The FDC review and facilitate deliberation regarding a University Statement on Diversity.
A subcommittee of the FDC worked during Fall Semester to assemble a preliminary draft of a
statement; this draft was reviewed by the full Committee, revised, and reviewed a second time.
The revised draft was presented to the Faculty Senate on April 2. Based on the comments
offered by Senators, a second draft has been prepared and awaits full committee review during
the 2001-2002 academic year.
4. The FDC undertake consideration of disability as an aspect of diversity.
Based on research conducted during the Fall of 2000, the Committee sponsored a forum on
Accessibility in March of 2001. The forum was attended by 30 staff, faculty, and students.
Informal review of building plans and increased consultation with the Coordinator of Disability
Services in planning efforts have been indirect results of the Committee’s efforts in this area.
Increasing awareness of disability as an aspect of the University culture and on-going efforts
aimed at ensuring accessibility remain as agenda items for Committee consideration.
Continuing items for 2001-2002
1. Continue to work with Office of Admission staff to implement the telephoning project.
2. Continue to work with the Director of Access programs and the Faculty Support Committee to
collaborate with Access programs and implement the Speakers’ Bureau.
3. Present a revised draft of the University Statement on Diversity to the Senate during the Fall
2001 semester and facilitate University-wide deliberation regarding the statement.
4. Work collaboratively with appropriate offices and governing bodies to develop additional
initiatives regarding disability as an aspect of diversity.
What can UPS faculty do to help enroll more students from
under-represented groups?
The newly formed Access Programs Faculty Support Committee is hoping to raise awareness
about the early college readiness program throughout the campus and involve faculty and
students in this vital task. We would like you to consider one of the following ways to enrich the
UPS student body:

Join the Access Programs Book Club – Current Reading: Toning the Sweep. Discussion
will be the evening of March 5, 2001.

Attend and purchase a $6 ticket to the Black Student Union Closing Ceremony to help an
Access Program student attend. Tickets can be purchased through the Black Student
Union or by sending a check made to the Black Student Union to Access Programs in
Jones 100.

Mentor a student either individually or in a group-mentoring visit to a school.

Join the panel discussion during the 24 Hours of College for high school students: March
1 at 7:15 in the Club Rendezvous. Discussion will focus on college life, courses, faculty
expectations and co-curricular activities.
Participate in the Mock College Admissions Committee for 24 Hours of College students:
March 2 at 9:00 a.m. in Wheelock 101.


Serve on our committee and impact Access Programs by offering our perspectives on the
th
th
continuous program development serving 7 through 12 grade students.
Contact Access Programs at access@ups.edu for any of these activities.
Kim Bobby, the director has implemented year-round programming that aims to raise academic
aspirations of students through tutoring, mentoring, math and science enrichment, college and
career exploration, financial planning, exposure college curriculum, introduction to faculty
expectations and increased parental involvement. Each of us is committed to working with Kim,
and becoming engaged with parents and students to achieve these goals.
Over the course of the semester, we will be keeping you up-to-date on opportunities to learn
about the evolution of Access Programs, and how you can become involved with the students.
Sincerely,
Nancy Bristow
Julian Edgoose
Helen Nagy