USM Diversity Plan: 2003

GOAL I: Campus Climate

USM continuously strives to make the campus a welcoming climate inclusive in its understanding and integration across multiple dimensions of diversity, including, but not limited to, diversity based on race and ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, gender expression and identity, religion and class.

The Director of Graduate Admissions has begun (2001-02) meeting regularly with staff of the division of Student Development. As a result, graduate student issues are more regularly being included in campus efforts to improve the USM climate for all students. As we discuss broadening the definitions of diversity, it is worth noting that graduate students (20% of the USM student body) come to us with diverse academic preparation, intellectual experiences, and professional experiences. In that sense, they provide diverse perspectives in classes and in other campus interactions. Our office will continue to work toward integrating graduate students into all aspects of the university community, both as USM citizens and as student workers. For example, the division of Student Development has created five graduate assistantships in various offices throughout their division. Students filling these roles will interact with undergraduate students and staff, adding their perspective on university life and campus climate.

The Office of Graduate Studies will sponsor information sharing and discussions with (graduate) program chairs around the implications of past and pending court decisions relating to diversity and admissions. The Graduate Dean and the Director of Graduate Admissions will draw upon these discussions to formulate a USM policy on the role of diversity in graduate admissions at USM. This will be incorporated in other institution-wide admissions policies for graduate programs and approved by the Graduate Council by September, 2003.

GOAL II: Curriculum and Academic Experience

The USM academic experience, which includes both curricular and co-curricular activities, increasingly reflects the multiplicity and diversity of communities and cultures locally, nationally and globally.

The Graduate Council examines and approves new graduate programs. As part of this process, they will continue to monitor the inclusion of cultural competence and diversity issues in all curricula. The Graduate Studies staff will continue to work with University Life on co-curricular activities that could (or already do) involve graduate students. Graduate Assistants now work in several university departments where incorporation of diverse perspectives and support of diversity are central: Department of Residential Life, Office of Student Involvement, Career Services, GLBTQA, Women's Resource Center, Office for Intercultural Development, Office of Community Standards, and Advising Center. The integration of diversity concerns will be incorporated in the periodic reviews of performance of these Graduate Assistants, and their input will be sought in ways to increase the university's responsiveness to the needs of all students.

GOAL III: Student Recruitment and Retention

USM strives to increase the diversity of its student body through active outreach and recruitment. USM increasingly works to develop structures and mechanisms that support the retention of all students, particularly students of color and other underrepresented populations.

The Office of Graduate Studies has recently initiated structural changes that increase the accessibility of the second floor to those who have difficulty with mobility. During the next year, we will continue to work toward making the offices more accessible from the outside.

Graduate Studies staff will initiate conversations with Admissions offices of other New England institutions of higher education to discuss recruitment and retention efforts that they have found successful. Specifically, we will contact five institutions by July 2003 and develop a composite list of strategies. In addition, we will obtain the Council of Graduate Schools' just published series of booklets on inclusiveness in graduate education as a source of ideas for implementation. Material deemed particularly helpful will be shared with program directors (Graduate Council).

We will continue to use the Trustee Scholarships to help programs recruit and retain students from under represented groups.