Diversity panel gets started
Group members named and convene for the first time this week
The University of North Dakota has a new barometer for diversity and inclusion on campus.
The Diversity Advisory Council met for the first time this week to discuss how to proceed with President Mark Kennedy’s directives to make UND a welcoming environment for all people and a trailblazer when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
The council was formed after two separate racially-insensitive photos were posted on Social Media by UND students.
The Council comprises students, faculty, staff and Grand Forks community members who will offer perspectives from different constituent groups. The idea is to give all UND stakeholders a voice in the decision-making process and to serve as a gauge for the president on what’s working and what’s not.
“When you have a body of people representing diverse areas, you get something that is more situated for a larger group,” said Sandra Mitchell, associate vice president for diversity and inclusion and chair of the Advisory Council. “You have a better chance of reaching the entire campus with your work.”
The following people have agreed to serve on the Diversity Advisory Council:
- Sabrina Balgamwalla, assistant professor, UND School of Law
- Stacey Borboa Peterson, director, UND Multicultural Student Services
- Lee Edward Brockington, student in the School of Law and president of UND’s Black Law Student Association
- Samantha Chairez, biology student and treasurer of UND’s Organization of Latino Americans
- Connie Frazier, executive director, UND Housing/Dining
- Jonathan Holth, owner of The Toasted Frog restaurant in Grand Forks
- Sara Kaiser, coordinator of UND Student Organizations and Activities
- Krista Lynn Minnotte, professor of sociology
- Sandra Mitchell (chair), associate vice president for diversity and inclusion
- Linda Neuerburg, assistant director, UND American Indian Student Services
- Carolyn Ozaki, associate professor of teaching and learning
- Brian Urlacher, associate professor of political science and public administration
- Ryan Zerr, director of essential studies and professor of mathematics
UND Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Thomas DiLorenzo joined the Council for its first meeting.
“With this Council, the University wants to enhance its focus on diversity and inclusion,” DiLorenzo said. “The President and I are looking forward to the recommendations from this group.”
For the next couple months, the Council will focus on:
- Completing inventories of existing diversity and inclusion practices with a specific focus on essential studies that qualify under the diversity requirement.
- Identifying best practices that enhance understanding of diversity and inclusion in higher education.
- Compiling a list of recommendations for consideration for UND, based upon current programs/practices and best practices of other institutions.
The group is off to a strong start.
“We’ve divided some of the work into specific subcommittees,” Mitchell said. “There have already been discussions about the diversity requirements for essential studies and how those can be strengthened.”
Is UND offering the right courses? How can we make sure students are getting the needed skills and knowledge? The Council plans to answer those questions and offer insight into other areas in a report due to Kennedy on Dec. 15.
The group also will keep the campus community up to date on its progress through regular email reports.
After December, the group will refocus its energy on the future of diversity and inclusion at UND.
“Right now, we’re really focused on short term,” Mitchell said. “But some of our longer-term goals include having a strategic plan for the University.”
