Moving Forward Together: Empowering the Office for Institutional Diversity

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2016) — As explained in last week's UKNow article, University of Kentucky administrators are working diligently to address five concerns students presented to them in a meeting last November. The second concern the students expressed was that the Office for Institutional Diversity (OID) is not effectively structured or empowered.

“This student concern is critical to achieving the university’s diversity and inclusion strategic initiatives. We must develop a better understanding of the current status of our efforts in order to assess continuous improvement, and act on what we learn. Yet, it is imperative to take action now, rather than delay," said Terry Allen, interim vice president for institutional diversity.

Addressing this concern, an assessment of the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Diversity central unit is under review. Specific needs and recommendations are being examined to identify responsibilities and develop an organizational chart that supports an increase in professional staffing. Additionally, an examination of diversity and inclusion institutional structures nationwide is being conducted.

OID houses five units: Center for Academic Resources and Enrichment Services, Student Support Services, Martin Luther King Center, Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives and the Office for LGBTQ* Resources. Funds have been allocated to strengthen resources within each unit. Vacant positions have been filled, new positions created and facilities are being enhanced.

Based on a new diversity policy by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), UK will develop a new diversity plan. UK is awaiting approval of the policy from the CPE including a framework for institutional diversity plan development.

UK has also increased its diversity programming budget by $10,000 annually to be administered by the Diversity Organizations Council.  The 2016-2017 fiscal year budget will retain this increased budget amount. UK will continue to review student diversity programming and develop plans for collaborative universitywide diversity programming initiatives.

In January 2016, UK President Eli Capilouto formed a Memorial Hall mural committee and charged the group with recommending a plan of action for the atrium in Memorial Hall. The committee was asked to determine specifically how to best give context to the mural. The committee worked through the spring semester and the summer to develop recommendations which can be found here.

Researchers from across the campus community are proposing a University of Kentucky Center for Equality and Social Justice that is structured around three facets:

1.    Research

2.    Policy studies and law

3.    Community engagement and advocacy

The center would help scholars and students draw connections between these facets with aims of better understanding social inequality through scholarship and collaboration, shaping policies and practices to reduce existing inequality and empowering scholars, students and the community to advocate for social justice.

The Violence Intervention and Prevention Center has expanded the scope of services to provide support and advocacy to those impacted by bias, hate, or identity-based violence based on an aspect of their identity or perceived identity.

Bias Incident Support Services (BISS) include:

• Support at the time of crisis
• Resources to support your physical, emotional and academic well-being
• Information on reporting options
• Assistance navigating campus and community reporting systems
• Services and support can be accessed by undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, faculty, staff

In addition to the Bias Incident Support Services, UK now has an official Bias Incident Response Team. The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is the university entity through which incidents of hate, bias, and  identity-based violence and harassment can be reported, reviewed and appropriate action can be taken by the university. This will allow the university to respond to individual incidents and to examine trends and themes that need to be addressed. Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to utilize the BIRT to notify the university of acts of bias, hate, and identity-based violence.

For more information about Bias Incident Support Services (BISS) or the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT), visit the VIP Center's website. To file an official report to the BIRT, submit this form.

“Sustaining an environment of diversity and inclusion is the responsibility of every member of the university community," Allen said. "The ongoing work of organizational units such as the VIP Center in Student and Academic Life, and the Center for Equality and Social Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a prime example of how Institutional Diversity must collaborate to become better, to instill a sense of belonging for everyone."

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, visit uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, 859-257-6398, blair.hoover@uky.edu