In keeping with UO President Michael Gottfredson’s charge that every campus department should play an active role in the diversity planning process, each campus unit has nominated members to serve on a university-wide diversity planning committee.

The first committee meeting will be held at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, in the EMU Walnut Room. The committee will meet monthly, with two identical meetings scheduled each month to give committee members flexibility for attendance.

The 90-minute meetings are designed to help committee members understand the vision behind the planning process. At the February meeting, members will discuss successes and challenges from the 2005 diversity planning process; share data about the current status of equity, inclusion and diversity in their units; and share best practices for moving forward to achieve the goals of the next diversity action plan.

Committee members will eventually work in subcommittee format to outline strategic priorities for the 2014 plan, review diversity plans from peer institutions and outline tactics, strategies and action steps necessary to successfully create and implement the new plan.

The committee’s work over the next few months will dovetail with the “Showcase Oregon” symposium to be held May 22 at the Ford Alumni Center. The symposium will feature accomplishments from the 2005 Diversity Plan, along with panels, workshops and discussions that focus on “showcasing” exemplary work on campus and around the nation. Invited speakers will present their work in the field, to augment presentations from UO faculty.

“I am honored to build on the solid work accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Charles Martinez as we move forward with building a comprehensive plan for the future,” said Yvette Alex-Assensoh, the UO's vice president for equity and inclusion.

“Achieving equity, inclusion and diversity as commonplace values and practices is a critical part of fulfilling our academic mission and our responsibility as a public research institution,” she said.

Upcoming Diversity Committee meetings:

Feb. 20, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., EMU Walnut Rm.

March 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Knight Library Browsing Room or March 20, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., EMU Walnut Room

April 3, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., EMU Walnut Room or April 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Knight Library Browsing Room

May 14, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Knight Library Browsing Room or May 15, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., EMU Walnut Room

June 11, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Knight Library Browsing Room or June 12, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., EMU Walnut Room

- from the UO's Office of the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion