Diversity Plan, Term Paper Example

It is increasingly clear that there are more than educational benefits that can be derived from learning environments that embrace diversity. However, these environments must be purposefully planned, implemented and continually improved. In order to use diversity in the support of learning, schools and colleges must attract a diverse student community, recruit a diverse faculty and staff, and change in curricula  (Virginia Tech, 2010)

However, it is important to recognize that creating a Diversity Plan is merely the foundation on which diversity can be achieve, and that these concepts of diversity are complex processes whereby we learn to provide teaching and research excellence in furtherance of improving the overall quality of student development. (Milem, 2005)

The school is committed to a diversity program that includes faculty, staff and students and provide a framework for achieving equity regardless of an individual’s ethnicity, social standing, sex, sexual orientation of physical attributes (including disability). The aims are set out as follows: (1) to create an inclusive environment that is conducive to excellent learning facilities for all students; (2) to ensure that all staff and students will be treated in an equitable manner, (3) to continually monitor the outcomes of the Plan and make adjustments as necessary. The program will be supervised by the Director of Human Resources in the Department of Academic Affairs.

In order to support a diversity strategy, there are a number of key elements that must be applied: (1) ensure that only the best academic and non-academic staff are recruited; (2) ensure that policies are grounded in equity and respect every person’s dignity at work and in school; (3) ensure that nobody is disadvantaged because of any perceived or imagined differences; and (4) ensure that the environment that you create facilitates the ability for high performance.

The vision for the Diversity Plan is therefore:

To create an inclusive community that supports learning and development for all faculty, staff and students, and which respects the value of human diversity; and to take responsibility as individuals and as an organization to work towards recognizing and eliminating bias and discrimination through education, training, and professional development.

Needs Assessment

The Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is a formal needs of documenting the training needs within the context of the diversity plan the training requirements should align to the goals and objectives of the plan and facilitate an equitable means of meeting the training needs of all members of the group. Computer Based Training (CBT) applications are becoming increasingly popular because there are a wide variety of applications readily available, costs are normally lower than conventional training and the students can proceed at their own self-regulated pace.

Diversity Goals

Goal A: Increase the diversity skills and competencies of the faculty and staff.

Goal B: Ensure students, faculty, and staff integrate awareness of local and worldwide issues of diversity and inclusion into learning and teaching.

Goal C: Create and maintain an environment that recognizes and respects diversity and implements inclusiveness as part of normal behaviour.

Objectives, Strategies and Evaluative Indicators

Goal A: Increase the diversity skills and competencies of the faculty and staff

Objective 1: Professional Development

Strategy:

• Build in terms of online and traditional classroom settings an environment that promotes improved cultural awareness
• The importance of making sure the courses support diverse related learning goals
• Help faculty members to understand the measurement criteria (metrics) for achieving diverse related outcomes
• Assist in the continued professional development of faculty member and coach the teachers how to deal with disadvantaged students

Evaluation:

• Inclusive representation of faculty and staff in improving curriculum development and that of professional development programs.

 Goal B: Ensure students, faculty, and staff integrate awareness of local and worldwide issues of diversity and inclusion into learning and teaching.

Objective 2: Teaching and Learning Diversity Integration

Strategies for Integration into Student Learning:

1. Hire faculty and staff with expertise in the integration of diversity into teaching and learning.

Evaluation:

1. Number of students enrolled in Diversity courses
2. Number of students participating in multicultural activities (e.g., studying foreign languages, etc.)
3. Number of students with increased understanding of other cultures or religions as indicated on assessment surveys (e.g., relevant surveys of student experiences/outcomes).

Strategies for Integration into Teaching:

• Improved integration of online and classroom based teaching in order to improve increased cultural awareness
• Increased flexibility for faculty members in the creation of new courses or amendment of existing ones to create improved improved levels of diversity
• Develop opportunities that help faculty members learn how to assess the achievement of diversity-related learning outcomes in class or in co-curricular experiences.
• Assist in the continued professional development of faculty member and coach the teachers how to deal with disadvantaged students

Evaluation:

1. Faculty participation in professional development programs for improving education on diversity and curriculum transformation

Goal C: Create and maintain an environment that recognizes and respects diversity and implements inclusiveness as part of normal behaviour.

Objective 3: School-wide diversity awareness

Strategies:

1. Use of surveys and focus groups to determine feedback on the effectiveness of the climate for diversity
2. Create meaningful dialogues amongst team members to understand any social or economic inequities
3. Set out the procedures to deal with any types of harassment or discrimination and the means to resolve conflicts
4. Provide rewards and celebratory events for specific achievements in the improvement and promotion of diversity.
5. Ensure that the principles of community are maintained by events both off and on campus. Sporting events are good for this.

Evaluation:

• Raise awareness on the Principles of Community as expressed by questions on the Employee Client survey.
• The input from national and multi-institutional surveys

Conclusion

Diversity is an important concept within the field of Educational Planning. This is becoming of increasing importance because of the multi-cultural world that we live in. Diversity planning helps to create a more harmonious environment facilitating the interaction between faculty, staff and the students. It promotes inclusivity and is against any form of racism, stereotyping or other such behavioural activities not conducive to the harmonious working within the school framework.

References

Cris Wildermuth, S. G. (2005). Diversity Training. Alexandria VA: ATSD Press.

Milem, J. F. (2005). Making Diversity Work on Campus. Retrieved from Association of American Colleges and Universities: http://www.aacu.org/inclusive_excellence/documents/Milem_et_al.pdf

Virginia Tech. (2010). 2010-2013 Virginia Tech Diversity Strategic Plan. Retrieved from http://www.vt.edu/diversity/diversity-strategic-plan.pdf