University Equity and Diversity (Sept. 30, 2007)

Dear colleague:

Earlier this year, the University Equity and Diversity Committee, with the aid of the VCU Survey and Evaluation Research Lab, conducted a survey of all faculty and staff to help evaluate the working atmosphere of the University as it relates to diversity. Of the 4,672 full-time faculty and staff at VCU, 2,051(44 percent) responded to the survey.

The results of the survey are now available on the University Equity and Diversity Web site. Also on that site is the report of an outside consulting firm, Kinzey and Day Market Research, which conducted focus groups in an effort to further elucidate some of the issues identified in the University-wide survey.

Overall, the survey results show that we have much to be proud of – 94 percent of respondents reported being proud to work for VCU, and 89 percent of respondents would recommend VCU as a place to work.

But we also found that we have areas for improvement – for example, in retaining and promoting women and minorities, and in ensuring that classified staff feel valued as vital members of the VCU community.

The University Equity and Diversity Committee will be hard at work in the coming months, translating findings into an action agenda. I’m pleased to report that Dr. Henry G. Rhone, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, has agreed to chair the Committee this year. He follows Dr. Beverly Warren, Dean of the School of Education, who ably led the Committee throughout the development and implementation of the Climate Survey and an initial draft of a University Strategic Plan for Diversity.

I am also pleased to announce that Dr. M. Njeri Jackson has agreed to serve the University as Special Assistant to the Provost for Promoting Diversity. Dr. Jackson comes to this role following nine years as director of the African American Studies Program and chair of the Department of African American Studies in the College of Humanities and Sciences. Dr. Jackson was instrumental in building the African
American Studies Program into a free-standing academic department, and in gaining University and SCHEV approval of the bachelor’s degree in African American Studies.  She is an associate professor of Political Science in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, and holds degrees from Georgia State University (B.A.), Atlanta University (M.A.), and Clark-Atlanta University (Ph.D.). An accomplished teacher and scholar in the areas of race, class and gender, Dr. Jackson has received numerous awards.

Finally, I extend my sincere appreciation to all of you who participated in the Climate Survey and Focus Groups.

Sincerely,

Stephen D. Gottfredson
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Copies:

Dr. Eugene P. Trani
Mr. John M. Bennett
Mr. Don Gehring
Dr. Francis L. Macrina
Ms. Sue Ann Messmer
Dr. Sheldon M. Retchin
Mr. Peter L. Wyeth