3. Diversity Is
According to Merriam-Webster, diversity is the
condition of having or being composed of differing
elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different
types of people (as people of different races or cultures)
in a group or organization <programs intended to
promote diversity in schools.>
5. Pre-segregation
Prominent People
Charles Owens (1890)
Floyd Meade (1896)
John Sears (1917)
Pat Mills (1919)
In 1930, extension programs serving Negro families were
moved from Hampton Institute to Virginia State College at
Petersburg and funding, accountability, and supervision of
programs for both Negros and whites became the
responsibility of the director of the Cooperative Extension
Service at VPI.
6. Post-segregation
• Prominent People
Irving L. Peddrew III (1953)
Charlie Yates (1954)
Matthew Winston (1955)
Essex Finney (1956)
James Whitehurst (1959)
Linda Adams, Jacquelyn Butler, Linda Edmonds, Freddie
Hairston, Marguerite Harper, and Chiquita Hudson (1966)
Jerry Gaines (1967)
Larry Donnell Beale (1967)
Heidi Ford (1968)
Jacqueline Desylvia Dandridge (1968)
Overton Johnson (1969)
Charlie Lipscomb (1969)
7. The Lee Hall Controversy and
The MOSIAC Theme Housing
8. Lee Hall
During the 125th
anniversary of Virginia
Tech, students in a history
class came across a page in
the 1896 Bugle listing Lee
as a leader in the campus
chapter of the KKK.
After a thorough
investigation in 1997, it was
determined that there was
the potential that the
organization was a hoax
and that the hall name
would not be changed.
9. MOSAIC Theme
MOSAIC was developed at the recommendation of the
Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity to
address questions about the namesake of Lee Hall in
2004 and as a result of student requests for a diversityfocused housing community.
11. MOSAIC Theme
Started in fall 2007
30% of Virginia Tech’s 9,125
on-campus residents live
in a theme housing
community.
Currently being
restructured and is not
available for participation
during the 2011-2012
academic year.
12. Slusher Hall
"The Tree Lounge."
Slusher Tower contains
the Multicultural
Opportunity Social
Awareness Interest
Community (MOSAIC)
themed-housing
community, an
intercultural living
environment that
embraces all types of
diversity.
13. Why theme housing?
These communities
combine interest-related
activities and academic
course work with a
residential environment
to make it easier for
students to connect with
faculty members, work
together in groups, and
integrate learning with
extracurricular
experiences.
14. Why Theme Housing?
Higher cumulative GPA
Low drop out rate
High rate of class
attendance
More interactions with
peers and professors
15. “MOSAIC is yet another vehicle for the university to
demonstrate its commitment to educating the whole
person. This program will demonstrate Virginia Tech’s
intention to operationalize its Principles of Community
in real time, with real resources and with real
results, producing cross-culturally competent leaders
and supporters of equity and inclusion in the
workplace, in our institutions and in our communities.”
Benjamin Dixon, Vice President for Multicultural Affairs.
16. The Office of Diversity and
Inclusion and Other
Important Diversity
Programs and Activities
17. Office for Diversity and Inclusion
Mission statement: To work to establish a collaborative
approach to achieving inclusive excellence at Virginia
Tech. We will provide leadership for building and
sustaining a diverse and inclusive community where all
individuals are appreciated and respected
Model of Inclusive Excellence
18. Equity Initiatives Department
Provides oversight of university affirmative action
efforts and works in concert with departments to
ensure adherence to equal opportunity principles as
they relate to the search and selection of faculty
19. Virginia Tech’s Faculty Diversity
African American
Asian American
Hispanic
International
Native American
White
Unknown
3%
9%
2%
11%
0%
74%
0%
20. Committee for Equal Opportunity
in Athletics
Requires Virginia Tech to conduct a “periodic review of
athletics department activities for consistency with
goals and objectives set forth in the institution’s and
athletic department’s written commitment to diversity
Department of Athletic’s Minority Opportunity Plan
21. Diverse Academic Programs
Africana Studies
American Indian Studies
Appalachian Studies
Asian Area Studies
Business Diversity Minor
Center for Gerontology
Foreign Languages and Literatures
International Studies
Judaic Studies
Race and Social Policy Research Center
Department of Religion and Culture
Science and Gender Equity
Sociology - Interest areas in doctoral program include
inequality, race, gender, and related topics
Women's and Gender Studies
22. Diverse Student Organizations
Asian American Student Union
alpha Kappa Delta Phi
Chinese American Society
Filipino American Student Association
Japanese Cultural Association
Black Organizations Council
African Student Association
Association of Black Psychologists at Virginia Tech
Black Graduate Student Organization
Black Student Alliance
National Society of Black Engineers
Jewish Student Union
Latino Association of Student Organizations
Latin Link
24. VT’S DIVERSITY PLAN
To enhance the the quality of life of individuals and
families across the life span by creating and
maintaining a body of student, faculty, and staff
which reflects the cultural diversity of the state of
Virginia and the national population
To create opportunities for intellectual
stimulation that are derived from an appreciation of
multiple perspectives that are brought to the center
and are allowed to flourish within a diverse
community of students, faculty, and staff
25. To build an infrastructure that promotes the full
participation of all groups in the decision-making
processes across the curriculum and administrative
affairs of the college
To foster a supportive forum which channels and
rewards internal and external collaborative initiatives
and partnerships that recognize interlocking
systems of oppression and privilege, in our
teaching, research and outreach agendas.
26. UVA’S DIVERSITY PLAN
The university promotes an inclusive and
welcoming environment that embraces the full
spectrum of human attributes, perspectives, and
disciplines. When people of different backgrounds
come together, they exchange ideas, question
assumptions, and broaden the horizons for us all.
A UVA community rich in diversity affords every
member equal respect – and provides a forum for
understanding our differences as well as our
commonalities.
27. Demographics
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska
Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanics of any race
Native Hawaiian or Other
Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
Not Reported
Nonresident Alien
Total
Fall
2002
Fall
2003
On-Campus Undergraduate Students
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
2004
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
47
1,452
54
1,473
54
1,472
52
1,503
69
1,523
1,205
384
0
1,243
419
0
1,179
436
0
1,069
479
0
976
503
0
16,978 16,482
0
0
707 1,029
640
594
21,413 21,294
Fall
2010
Fall
2011
69
71
68
56
57
1,655
967
586
0
1,787
916
659
0
1,823
888
779
1,873
876
896
1,918
875
1,030
1
17,456
160
1,873
464
23,512
12
17,838
401
1,176
509
23,637
15
17,709
612
816
615
23,647
16,044 16,032 15,850 16,678 17,373
0
0
0
0
0
1,524 1,918 2,574 2,568 2,247
563
514
457
464
480
21,272 21,567 21,938 22,987 23,533
28. UVA:
•Asian, Asian Pacific American
Programs
JMU:
•African Student
Organization
•Hispanic/Latino programs
•Asian Student Union
•Office for African American
Affairs
•Black Student Alliance
•Chinese Student
Association
•International Student
Association
30. Survey: How diverse do you feel
the Virginia Tech community is?
Responses
6%
19%
17%
Very Diverse
Somewhat Diverse
Not Diverse
57%
Other
31. Questions
Do you feel Virginia Tech is diverse.
Any key themes and differences in the two diversity
strategic plans ?
Who has done a better job with the subject?
In your opinion, has Virginia Tech been successful at
implementing the stated diversity plan or is it “all talk”?
Are there enough diverse organizations and programs on
campus?
Do you have any experience with diverse programs and
organizations that you would like to share or organization
or programs that we haven’t mentioned that you think are
beneficial to know about?