University of Kentucky 2011-2015 Diversity Plan
Download the PDF copy of the 2011-2015 Diversity Plan.
Campus Climate Commitments and Actions
I. Commission on Excellence, Diversity and Inclusion
The UK Commission on Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion is an issues-oriented and Task Force driven commission.
Task Force on Student Services—Focused on issues of diversity and inclusion in undergraduate co-curricular activities and engagement. The focus is more collaboration in programming and implementation among the various student groups and offices. The intended result is tighter, more comprehensive programming with greater economic efficiency.
Task Force on Academic Support and Enrichment—Focused on issues of undergraduate retention and graduation. Some of the concerns include reasonable uniformity and cohesiveness in approach to services; the Coalition for Black Male Student Success; support of efforts for success of first generation students; and supporting efforts to increase diversity in study abroad.
Task Force on Quality of Work Life—Focused on work life issues of UK employees that enhance diversity and inclusion efforts.
Women's Initiative for Career and Leadership Development—Established linkage with the American Council on Education's Office of Women in Higher Education and with the Governor's Commission on Women. The goal is to help women develop a coherent approach to thinking through and acting on plans/opportunities for professional development and leadership.
Task Force on Partner Opportunities—Focused on developing a protocol and structured approach for responding to needs of finding suitable opportunities for partners of UK recruits to faculty and administrative positions.
Task Force on Campus Climate—Focused on socialization issues that enhance UK's quotient of being a welcoming campus environment. Involves strategic planning efforts for specialized activities and opportunities with deans to customize efforts in most colleges and create a collective psyche around a more embracing campus environment.
Task Force on Alumni Engagement—Focused on structured and strategic involvement of alumni in targeted diversity and inclusion efforts.
II. Climate for Learning Survey
In 2009, the Climate for Learning Survey was administered to undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional students in an effort to assess the academic and social climate on campus. The 63-item questionnaire was the product of collaboration between the President's Commission on Diversity and Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness. A total of 2,856 students responded to the survey. The overall response rate was 28 percent, and the overall margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent. Since the sample was not a simple random one and response rates varied within demographic groups, scores were weighted to reflect the composition of the UK student body and each college in Spring 2009. Nine scales were constructed to assess the University of Kentucky learning environment: Openness to diversity, Discomfort with diversity, Welcoming campus environment, Curricular/co-curricular effectiveness, Perceptions of disparate treatment, Engaged community, Volunteerism, Faculty interactions, and Diverse social interactions. Note: Climate for Learning Survey results are provided at www.uky.edu/IRPE/.
III. Work-Life Survey
UK@Work was a survey conducted in 2005 and 2006. Over 50 percent of faculty and staff members responded to the survey. The staff and faculty surveys focused on several broad themes: Work environment, Work-Life effectiveness, Diversity, and Recruitment/Retention. The goal of the survey was to identify a positive work environment in which employees would remain, contributing to a diverse and dynamic workforce. To become a Top 20 institution UK must be a Top 20 workplace. The survey contributed to the creation of the Work-Life Office identifying areas in which employees desired resources, services, and information. Note: Work-Life survey results are featured at www.uky.edu/IRPE/.
A second UK@Work survey was conducted in 2010 that included three scales used in 2005-2006: Commitment, Burn-out, and Work-Life support. The 2010 survey also employed two scales from the Climate for Learning Survey: Welcoming Campus Environment and Perceptions of Disparate Treatment. The UK Office of Institutional Research is working with the Work-Life Advisory Council on the survey findings.
Conclusion
The University of Kentucky hereby establishes this 2011-2015 Diversity Plan in compliance with the Council on Postsecondary Education Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Diversity Policy and Framework for Institutional Diversity Plan Development.