CHADRON STATE
COLLEGE
DIVERSITY PLAN:
2000-2001 Annual Report
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE DIVERSITY PLAN: 1998-2003
ANNUAL REPORT, 2000-2001
Executive Summary
The Chadron State College (CSC) Diversity Plan complements and supplements the institution's strategic Five-Year Plan (1998-2003). As evidenced by both Plans, CSC continues its strong commitment to the value of diversity in an academic environment. CSC Diversity Plan implementation solidly positions the campus and provides direction for improvement in campus awareness and appreciation of diversity.
The CSC Diversity Committee continues to provide direction, initiative, and support in diversity efforts at Chadron State College. The committee is composed of students, staff, and faculty of the CSC community. President Thomas L. Krepel appointed the 2001-2002 committee to be representative of the entire campus; however, all individuals who express an interest in providing leadership in the implementation of the Diversity Plan are invited and welcomed into the committee.
During the spring 2000 and fall 2001 semesters, the CSC Diversity Committee assessed the institution's 2000-2001 activities, evaluating campus strengths and areas needing additional focus. The Committee found strong campus support and participation in activities relating to diversity awareness and appreciation. Additionally, the continued and strong commitment to the value of diversity at Chadron State College is evident in campus programming, hosting of campus visitors, classroom activities, and constituent participation. Early in the 2001 fall semester, the Diversity Committee determined that the Chadron State College campus desired a stronger reflection of connectedness among all people, as well as a stronger expansion of the traditional vision of diversity to include differences in backgrounds and experiences, knowledge base and thought processes. This will form the basis of the action plans for the 2001-2002 academic year.
The primary challenge facing the Diversity Committee is limited funding. The current state of financial concern in the State of Nebraska does not bode well for the development of an expansive plan for state-supported diversity programming at Chadron State College. Thus, the campus has internally reallocated funds for use by the Diversity Committee. Currently, a small budget of approximately $4000 is available for the committee to use to meet its objectives; other funding sources across campus and from other sources are leveraged for maximum benefit.
To meet the campus focus of connectedness among all people the Diversity Committee sought input from campus constituents in developing new objectives and action plans for the coming year. Thirteen objectives will provide the direction for 56 action plans to which the campus is committed to achieving. Strong focus continues toward improving awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diversity, with an added focus on understanding cultural value similarities. The action plans developed for the coming year are ambitious - yet, the history of completion of past action plans indicates that they are achievable. Chadron State College believes that a campus that esteems and extols diversity will provide a climate conducive to recruiting and retaining faculty, staff, administrative personnel, and students from varying backgrounds and experiences.
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE
DIVERSITY PLAN: 1998-2003
Annual Report - 2000-2001
INTRODUCTION
The Chadron State College (CSC) Diversity Plan, patterned after and complementary of the institutional Five-Year Plan (1998-2003), was written by campus constituents in 1998-1999. This alliance of strategic planning documents provides a consistent framework for campus strategic planning as well as an articulation of the campus commitment to the inherent value of diversity within its academic environment. Chadron State College continues to exhibit a strong commitment to the value and the appreciation of diversity. The implementation of the Diversity Plan directs the improvement of and strongly positions the campus in campus appreciation and awareness of diversity.
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE's MISSION:
Chadron State College provides premier instructional, applied research, and public service programming in an open and welcoming environment. We fulfill our commitment to quality by using advanced instructional technologies, fostering lifelong learning, promoting cultural diversity, and working in partnership with our communities.
2000-2001 DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES
During the spring and fall 2000 semesters, members of the Chadron State College Diversity Committee assessed the institution's 1999-2000 diversity activities, evaluating campus strengths and areas needing additional focus. The CSC Diversity Committee found continued strong existing commitment to the value of diversity. The Committee sought input from campus constituents in developing new objectives and action plans for the coming year. The resulting 2000-2001 diversity goals and action plans were the product of departmental reports, constituent suggestions, assembly brainstorming, focus groups, and reviewed past Diversity Committee reports.
Year Three Activities
The CSC Diversity Plan, which complements the campus Five-Year Plan, has provided significant focus and direction for the campus. The following report summarizes many of CSC's 2000-2001 activities that enhanced appreciation, awareness, and actuality of diversity at Chadron State College. These activities, arranged to follow the CSC Five Year Plan and the CSC Diversity Plan format, are reflective of activities completed as of June 30, 2001.
Chadron State College's goals are articulated through six Vision statements. Each of these Vision statements, and the completed diversity activities for 2000-2001 within each, are presented below:
VISION COMPONENT 1 – Building on its strength and tradition as a teaching institution, Chadron State College is nationally recognized for excellence in its core instructional programming. The Chadron State College instructional program is characterized by and fosters critical thinking, complex problem solving skills, collaboration, leadership development, community building, and self-actualization of all learners.
Goal 1-1. All CSC programs meet high standards, adhere to institutional principles of quality, and provide strong knowledge cores.
Objective: Reassess and Develop Current Native American Studies Minor.
Action Plan: Evaluate potential for full-time faculty position.
¨ The open position in History was advertised with the leadership for this minor as a portion of the job description. Dr. Joel Hyer was hired into this position.
Other:
¨ BIOL 448/548, Ethnobotany of the Northern Great Plains, and the accompanying laboratory, were offered in Spring 01, with 18 students enrolled. This course is an elective in both the American Indian Studies Minor and the Biology major.
Goal 1-2. CSC faculty are highly qualified and current in their disciplines.
Objective: Develop faculty awareness of diversity issues within their respective disciplines and professions.
Action Plan: Enhance campus communication and collaboration regarding diversity awareness through workshops, training, and speakers that address/represent minority cultures.
¨ On October 11 and 12, 2000 Multicultural Services co-sponsored speaker George Mendoza. Mr. Mendoza who is legally blind, was brought to CSC for Disabilities Awareness month. Mr. Mendoza spoke to the public on 11 October. On 12 October, Mr. Mendoza had a special meeting with the Counseling, Career, & Tutoring Staff to talk about disability services at CSC. He also spoke at the All Campus meeting on 12 October.
¨ Through the support of various CSC Diversity organizations, three guest speakers to CSC presented to the Multicultural Counseling class and to Phi Alpha Theta. These speakers were Dr. Marty Ramirez (Lincoln, NE), Mr. Ralph Crosby (Chadron, NE), and Momfeather Erickson (Omaha, NE)
¨ Dr. Ramirez presented to several different classes and/or groups. On 13 March he was the guest speaker for the Multicultural Counseling class. On 14 March, Dr. Ramirez was the guest speaker for the students in their professional education semester and at Phi Alpha Theta.
¨ Momfeather Erickson, a Cherokee Elder, was the guest speaker for the Multicultural Counseling class on 10 April 2001. On 11 April, Ms. Momfeather was the guest speaker for Phi Alpha Theta.
Action Plan: A ‘Sister Institution’ outside the United States will be identified and contact made to align programmatic and academic interactions.
¨ A sister institution of similar role and mission was identified from Canadian institutions. Follow-up has yet to occur.
¨ Continued musical collaborations with Siauliai University (Lithuania) resulted in a collaborative performance with the Bordeaux Community Band, the CSC Choir, and their Studium Chorus on our campus.
Other
¨ Students In Free Enterprise worked closely with the Pine Ridge Job Corp and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on several projects, including interviewing skills, personal presentation and dress, and money management.
Goal 1-3. CSC programs are current, with clearly defined goals and outcomes that provide graduates necessary knowledge and skills, and a commitment to continuous learning.
Objective: Offer multicultural experiences for education majors and other students.
Action Plan: Continue to provide the multicultural trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
¨ Students within their education professional semester spent two days on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, touring schools, talking with professionals, and interacting in cultural events.
¨ The Criminal Justice Honors Seminar students under the direction of Dr. George Watson, Professor of Criminal Justice, toured the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to examine the tribal justice system and meet with Native American Criminal Justice officials.
Action Plan: Implement a multicultural trip to a Hispanic community either in Scottsbluff or Denver.
¨ Students in their education professional semester were taken to the Scottsbluff Valley on March 28-29, 2001, for introduction to Hispanic culture.
Action Plan: Enhance Education Block students’ understanding of multicultural aspects as they are presented in the simulation BaFa BaFa.
¨ Class session simulation by Dr. Gardener and Mrs. Marshall during a Student Special Topics session during the professional semester.
Objective: Incorporate global-awareness activities and information into academic programming.
Action Plan: Infuse course offerings with information regarding cultural and ethnic similarities and differences as well as appreciation:
¨ The Department of Psychology offered a new course entitled Culture and Psychology (PSYC 421) during the Fall 2000 semester (12 students completed course; course is now required in the General Psychology Major).
¨ The Department of Psychology offered Multicultural Counseling (COUN 435/535). The goals of the course are to increase cultural sensitivity and to develop culturally appropriate counseling skills. The Multicultural Counseling course (Spring, 2000) was exclusively dedicated to the study of the Nation’s four major racial-cultural minority populations.
¨ Instruction in cross-cultural counseling skills was covered in Psychotherapeutic Process (PSYC 533; Fall, 2000; Course is now PSYC 435/535 Counseling and Communication Skills).
¨ The Department of Psychology addressed cultural, social, educational, and political issues in Adolescent Psychology (PSYC 336). This course includes multicultural content in issues related to adolescent development as a means of fostering global citizenry (Fall, 2000).
¨ General Biology (BIOL 136) and Human Sexuality (BIOL 331) have added new audiovisual enhancements that include aspects of multiculturalism and issues of diverse sexual orientation.
¨ Earth Science (ES 137) has been revamped to include cultural diversity.
¨ Child Development Center staff training includes multicultural awareness and sensitivity.
¨ Aging and Death (FCS 320) incorporates an elder-student partnership project to enhance understanding and appreciation across generations.
¨ Issues of diversity, ethnicity, and multiculturalism were addressed in Ethical and Legal Issues (COUN 533; Fall, 2000) and in Counseling and Personality Theories (COUN 541; Fall, 2000).
¨ In every Psychology and Counseling course, cultural diversity was emphasized through broadening perspectives, understanding, communication effectiveness and service provision in counseling and education.
¨ Dr. George Watson, Professor of Criminal Justice, has given four presentations on the Dakota Tribal Court System: Native Americans and the Law to campus and community.
¨ Dean Steven Willborn, Interim Dean of the School of Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was hosted by the Justice Studies Department. Dean Willborn conducted a campus presentation entitled Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace.
¨ Music education courses explore music from Africa, Japan, China, America, and Germany. These courses assist pre-service teachers in integrating ethnic diversity into music education.
¨ Music History I & II compare and study the musics of France, Germany-Austria, England, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and other European countries. Additionally, an emphasis on non-western musics (Java, India, China, Japan, Africa, Pacific Rim) and their impact upon western composition in the 20th century is detailed.
¨ Elements of Music includes comparison of aspects of musics of the Western world with musics of India, China, Japan, various Native American groups, and Africa. Also, this course examines the role of women in music-making from the Middle Ages to the present.
Vision Component 2- Chadron State College has created and maintains a stimulating learning and work environment characterized by the use of the most effective instructional strategies, innovation, continuous development and improvement, and an appreciation and understanding of social, cultural, and political diversity.
Goal 2-1. Continuous multicultural professional development of students, faculty, and staff is provided.
Objective: Provide opportunities in diversity education for faculty, staff, and students.
Action Plan: Enhance campus communication and collaboration regarding diversity awareness through workshops, training, and speakers that address/represent minority.
¨ The Education Department continued providing the multicultural trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota for educational students in their professional semester.
¨ The Education Department implemented a multicultural trip to a Hispanic community in the Scottsbluff Valley for education students in their professional semester.
¨ The Education Department continued the Professional Semester class for pre-service teachers in Human Relations/Multiculturalism for both elementary and secondary educators.
¨ Criminal Justice/Legal Studies Honors Seminar students participated in a field trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation to examine the justice system on the Reservation. Students met with Native American Criminal Justice officials.
¨ Students are encouraged to seek internship experiences that will expose them to multicultural and diverse populations.
¨ All students in Criminal Justice are required to complete the course Multicultural Issues in Criminal Justice (CJ 336); this course examines the involvement and role of minorities in crime and the criminal justice system.
¨ The Music Department presented a new course entitled African Roots in American Popular Music and Jazz (MUS 460)