University Reviews Draft Diversity Plan

A task force of the President’s Diversity Council has presented a draft Diversity Plan to President Gregory H. Williams for his review and consideration, according to Council Chair Louis Bilionis.  The co-chairs of the task force are now in the process of vetting the draft plan with the university's various governance organizations. The draft Diversity Plan is available for review and comment at the Diversity Council website.

“Members of the Diversity Plan Task Force and all others who have worked diligently to create this plan are commended for their work,” said Chief Diversity Officer Mitchel D. Livingston. “It is a milestone achievement.”

The President’s Diversity Task Force, co-chaired by former president Nancy Zimpher and UC alumna Marian Spencer was established in 2006.  College of Law Dean Louis Bilionis chaired the Steering Committee and led the group to assess UC’s progress toward diversity. 

“The task force’s work resulted in a strategy and action plan for promoting diversity that integrates ongoing efforts and existing institutional structure to encourage a campus environment that embraces diversity and inclusion as a core value,” Bilionis said.

One of the recommendations from the task force plan was the establishment of the President’s Diversity Council in 2007.  Cynthia Berryman-Fink served as the first chair of this body until her retirement.  In 2009, Bilionis was named chair.  The Council, under these leaders, has seen many of the recommendations from the original report implemented.  For additional information on these recommendations, go to the diversity web site:  www.uc.edu/diversity.  Last year, a subcommittee of the President’s Diversity Council was commissioned to develop a five year University Diversity Plan. 

The co-chairs who produced the draft plan are Terry Kershaw, chair of Africana Studies in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences; Debra Merchant, associate vice president for Student Services; and Barb Rinto, director of the UC Women’s Center.

Following the vetting process with governance groups and the President and his Cabinet, the Diversity Plan will be presented to the Board of Trustees for review.