Diversity Task Force

In keeping with the UW Tacoma mission to “educate diverse learners and transform communities by expanding the boundaries of knowledge and discovery,” the UW Tacoma Diversity Task Force serves to bring to life the campus’ expression of its value of diversity, and to provide campus guidance for equity, diversity, and multicultural teaching and learning. Its goal is to ensure an inclusive campus environment through practices and policies that result in equitable outcomes.

The Task Force also looks to the UWT Statement of Commitment to Diversity for its understanding of this campus’ broad perspective of equity and diversity. With the establishment of the Equity & Diversity Office, the campus adopted the four dimensions of campus diversity as its framework for diversity issues: (1) access and success; (2) education and scholarship; (3) climate and intergroup relations; and (4) institutional viability and vitality. All dimensions refer to the entirety of campus stakeholders: faculty, staff, students, and community groups and leaders.

Specifically, the Diversity Task Force has responsibility for recommending guidelines where needed, monitoring and reporting campus progress on the state of equity and diversity on campus, and advising the Chancellor, Directors, and Vice Chancellors on critical issues relating to equity and diversity. In adherence with the campus strategic plan, the Task Force emphasizes the following:

• Promoting an environment where diverse perspectives and experiences are expected;
• Seeking out and supporting individuals who may experience barriers in gaining access to college;
• Stimulating a vibrant learning community by presenting lectures, events and performances that inspire new views;
• Encouraging and rewarding intercultural competence;
• Aligning values with actions in support of justice and fairness;
• Attracting and retaining a community of people and ideas representing diverse cultures and experiences.

Appointed by the Chancellor, the Diversity Task Force is hereby charged to carry out the responsibilities described above and to report its plan to the Chancellor within its first quarter of operation and its progress on an annual basis.

• 2011-12 Diversity Task Force Report to the Chancellor
• Diversity Task Force meeting notes – 12/3/2012
• Diversity Task Force meeting notes – 1/9/2013
• Diversity Task Force meeting notes – 2/6/2013
• Diversity Task Force meeting notes – 3/6/2013
• Diversity Task Force meeting notes – 4/3/2013
• Diversity Task Force meeting notes – 5/8/2013

2012-13 Diversity Task Force Members

• Julia Aguirre, Education
• John Besaw, Business
• Anthony Falit-Baiamonte, Urban Studies
• Sharon Parker, Equity & Diversity
• Patrick Pow, Information Technology
• Deirdre Raynor, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
• Alina Urbanec, Chancellor’s Office
• Michael Crosby, Academic Affairs

Criteria for Selection of Diversity Courses (US diversity)

Courses provide students with understanding of human diversity in the United States. They focus on one or more socially constructed identities such as race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, age, ethnicity, and nationality. They have one or more of the following goals:

• To provide an in-depth analysis of at least one socially constructed identity
• To teach about the intersections of socially constructed categories, perspectives and experiences
• To teach students to think critically about power, inequality, marginality and activism
• To explore the customs, traditions, and cultural expressions (art, dance, music, literature, etc.) as they relate to experiences of power, privilege, oppression and activism
• To explore the historical precursors of contemporary power relationships and the interconnected histories of various people as they relate to power, privilege and oppression
• Investigate contemporary society and how institutions like education, law, government, religion, science, health, military, and others contribute to the inequitable distribution of power and privilege in society.

Courses have at least 60% content focused on diversity.

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