UDAC MEMBER INFORMATION!!

UDAC 2008-2009 Schedule of Meetings

2008-2009 UDAC Presentations

The University Diversity Advisory Council (UDAC) is an advisory group to the President, the Provost and the Vice Provost for diversity.

1. Policy and Practice:

The Council will support the mission of the Office of Diversity by

The Council will sponsor, support, or promote programs which build individual awareness and understanding of diversity related issues among students, staff, and faculty. The Council will also support or co-sponsor activities and events which acknowledge and celebrate diversity across the university community.

3. Program Review:

The Council will assist the vice provost for diversity in conducting an annual evaluation of the impact of diversity programs through utilization of a variety of assessment methods.

The Council will gather information in order to evaluate the positive and negative impact of diversity programs and services upon campus climate. Impact will be measured in terms of participation in programs and events, changes in demographic profiles, and rate of occurrence of acts of intolerance.

Strategies will be developed and implemented which will build upon the positive impact of diversity programs and services and/or to counter any negative impact identified through the evaluation process. Positive changes in the campus climate will be identified, documented, and reflected in public information.

The Role of the University Diversity Advisory Council

• Provide advice to the Vice Provost on diversity matters.
• Serve as the highest leadership council for university-wide diversity matters.
• Receive and review diversity progress reports from each unit of the University.
• Serve as an advocate for diversity agenda for Kent State University.
• Provide support to the Vice Provost in implementing diversity mission for the University.
• Ensure that the units they represent are fully informed of the diversity development across the University. This is best done by monthly briefing to the Dean and to the College Advisory Council (CAC).
• Lead diversity initiatives for the unit they represent.  Ensure that each unit translates the University-wide Strategic Diversity Plan into action plan.
• Ensure that the diversity initiatives of their units are in harmony with the University direction as defined by the Strategic Diversity Implementation Plan.
• Attend a monthly meeting or ensure that someone attends on your behalf.

Composition of the University Diversity Advisory Council

• The chair of each of the seven regional diversity advisory committees
• Appointed representative of each of the six colleges
• Appointed representative of each of the five administrative divisions
  
• • Human Resources (Affirmative Action Officer)
  • Administration
  • University Relations and Development
  • Technology
  • Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

• One appointed representative of the senate
  
• One student representative
  

Note: It is advisable that representatives be those willing and able to provide leadership for the unit they represent. Therefore, senior, tenured faculty, and senior staff are preferable.  Each unit should have a primary representative and an alternate who should serve as a substitute when the primary representative is absent.

Role of the Vice Provost

  Serve as the chief diversity officer for the University.

• Implement the University Diversity Plan and monitor implementation progress.
• Chair the UDAC and ensure that there is a functioning UDAC in operation at all time.
• Brief the President and the Provost on university-wide diversity matters.
• Work with unit and division leaders to ensure effective implementation of their action plans.
• Keep the UDAC well informed of diversity matters so that UDAC can provide effective advice.
• Promote Kent State image with respect to diversity initiatives.
• Solicit resources to support implementation of diversity initiatives.
• Serve as the diversity educator for the campus.
• Provide overall coordination for all diversity initiatives for the University.

The Role of the Regional Diversity Advisory Committee(RDAC)

• Work closely with the Campus Dean to provide overall leadership on all diversity matters for the Campus.
• Work closely with the Campus Dean to translate Kent State Strategic Diversity Plan into Campus-specific Diversity Action Plan.
• Provide periodic feedback to the Campus Dean on diversity initiatives at other campuses.
• Monitor progress on Strategic Diversity Indicators and prepare annual report on progress
• Present progress report to the vice provost and to the UDAC.
• Communicate regularly with the Office of the Vice Provost to ensure harmony with the University direction on diversity initiatives.

The Role of the Regional Campus Dean

• Ensure that a functioning DAC is in operation at the beginning of the academic year.
• Ensure that the DAC is constituted by those capable and willing to lead diversity agenda for the campus, preferably tenured, senior faculty and senior staff.
• Ensure that a Chair is appointed/elected for DAC, preferably a tenured senior faculty committed to diversity.
• Empower the DAC to provide an effective diversity leadership for the campus.
• Ensure that the DAC is provided with resources to implement the campus diversity plan. DAC is most effective when it has a budget to work with.
• Approve all diversity related activities.
• Work closely with the Vice Provost on all matters pertaining to diversity of the campus.

The Role of the DAC Chair

• Ensure that the DAC meets regularly, at least once a month.
• Ensure that each meeting is productive and focused.
• Share your meeting agenda and minutes with the chairs of other DACs.
• Brief the campus dean on the effectiveness of the Committee and on diversity matters.
• Communicate regularly with the Office of the Vice Provost.
• Represent the campus at UDAC or ensure that your campus is represented at every UDAC.
• Ensure that the DAC manages its resources wisely and performs its functions effectively.

Can I be involved without being a Council member?
Yes! From time to time, the vice provost and/or the Council invites the expertise of members of the campus community as team members for a specific task or project. These ad hoc members will be invited to attend the council meetings.

How often will the Council meet?
A. The Council shall meet three times during the academic year. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chair of the Council in consultation with vice provost for diversity. No regular scheduled meetings will be held during the summer term.

B. A quorum is necessary to conduct any Council business. A quorum shall consist of more than half the Council.

C. Agenda items of Council business shall be in all members hands in advance of the meeting.

D. Minutes of all meetings will be kept and distributed to the Council.

How can I get more information about the Council?
To obtain your copy of the 2006-2010 Diversity Plan, volunteer to serve on the Council, or simply get more information, contact the Office of Diversity, Kent State University Executive Offices, 2nd Floor Library, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001. Telephone (330) 672-2442. Fax (330) 672-2644. E-mail diversity@kent.edu