DesertFox
05-26-2005, 04:22 PM
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An early draft of a five-year "diversity plan" for the University of Oregon has drawn a firestorm of criticism from faculty, prompting administrators to distance themselves from the proposal.
The draft plan, billed as a "long-term vision for diversity," called for the university to hire up to 40 faculty members by 2012 to teach courses in a "cluster" of diversity-related topics, including race, gender, gay and disability studies.
Under the plan, academic departments that hew closely to the university's diversity goals when hiring would be given "priority in the funding of new positions."
The plan would also mandate that faculty up for promotions or tenure be evaluated on their "cultural competency" — the ability to successfully work with people from all cultural backgrounds. Traditionally, research, publications and teaching have been the key elements of a tenure review.
The draft plan suggests that the university set aside more funding for hundreds of new "diversity building scholarships" for minority undergraduates over the next five years, as well as new fellowships for graduate students aimed at those from "under-represented" backgrounds.
A key goal, the draft plan continues, is to double the number of black, Hispanic, Asian and American Indian students attending the university in the next five years.
Under the plan, student curriculum requirements could also change, possibly with the inclusion of a "gender and sexuality requirement."
"Many people were upset with the content in different ways; the plan was sort of an Orwellian, totalitarian plan," said Michael Kellman, a chemistry professor at the university.
Sources at the university said the draft plan drew immediate condemnation from department heads across the campus, some of whom had little to no knowledge of the proposal before it was posted on the university's Web site.
More (http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-10/111706227759330.xml&storylist=orlocal)
The draft plan, billed as a "long-term vision for diversity," called for the university to hire up to 40 faculty members by 2012 to teach courses in a "cluster" of diversity-related topics, including race, gender, gay and disability studies.
Under the plan, academic departments that hew closely to the university's diversity goals when hiring would be given "priority in the funding of new positions."
The plan would also mandate that faculty up for promotions or tenure be evaluated on their "cultural competency" — the ability to successfully work with people from all cultural backgrounds. Traditionally, research, publications and teaching have been the key elements of a tenure review.
The draft plan suggests that the university set aside more funding for hundreds of new "diversity building scholarships" for minority undergraduates over the next five years, as well as new fellowships for graduate students aimed at those from "under-represented" backgrounds.
A key goal, the draft plan continues, is to double the number of black, Hispanic, Asian and American Indian students attending the university in the next five years.
Under the plan, student curriculum requirements could also change, possibly with the inclusion of a "gender and sexuality requirement."
"Many people were upset with the content in different ways; the plan was sort of an Orwellian, totalitarian plan," said Michael Kellman, a chemistry professor at the university.
Sources at the university said the draft plan drew immediate condemnation from department heads across the campus, some of whom had little to no knowledge of the proposal before it was posted on the university's Web site.
More (http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-10/111706227759330.xml&storylist=orlocal)