DePaul University
PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination

DePaul University has an office that is charged by the President mission and a comprehensive diversity strategy. In addition, Diversity is a strategic goal in Vision Twenty12. In addition, the President appointed a Vice President of Institutional of Diversity and Equity in 2006.

The President's Diversity Council, which was implemented in 2006 to advise the President about diversity issues, and serve the University's diverse populations by recommending coordinated institutional procedures that, will help achieve the objectives as outlined in Goal 3 of Vision Twenty12.

Council representatives are the voice of their respective councils, commissions, committees and constituencies. The council is a mechanism to report issues to the Vice President of Institutional Diversity and Equity, who reports concerns directly to the President and designated administrative officers

The President's Diversity Council (PDC) will promote collaboration and communication by bringing together leaders from identified constituency groups to initiate cooperative programs and facilitate opportunities for multicultural dialogue. Goals of the committee are:

1. The PDC advises the VP of OIDE about the development and implementation of policies and programs designed to improve the campus environment for members of university constituencies, maximize training, and prepare students to live in a diverse society.

2. The PDC considers issues and problems on campus that may be especially relevant to specific population groups, and will advise the President through the VP of OIDE and the PDC's Annual Report, about potential remedies

3. The PDC provides a forum for highlighting events that address diversity issues.

Chair: Elizabeth Ortiz, Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity

Committee members:
Anthony Alfano, Student Government Association (SGA) President 2011-2012
Imran Ali, School for New Learning & Staff Council Diversity Committee Chair
Darryl Arrington, DePaul Black Leadership Coalition (DPUBLC), President
Miriam Ben Yoseph, School for New Learning
Katrina Caldwell, Cultural Center
Guillermo Campuzano, University Ministry
Ronald Chennault, School of Education
Anthony Chung, College of Computing and Digital Media
Temi Famodu, Student Government Association (SGA) Senator for Intercultural Awareness
Camilla Fojas, Latin American Studies
Dustin Goltz, College of Communication
Sandra Jackson, Center for Black Diaspora
Jay Jones, University Real Estate
Laura Kina, Art & Art History
Judith Kolar, PLUS Program
Elizabeth Martinez, Center for Latino Research
Allen Moye, College of Law
Elizabeth Murphy, College of Commerce
Jesus Pando, College of Science and Health
Rosa Perez, Human Resources
Francesca Royster, English
Sandra Shelton, College of Commerce
Brian Spittle, Enrollment Management & Marketing
Kathryn Statz, Athletics
Rico Tyler, Student Affairs
Laura Warren, Office of the General Counsel
Rafaela Weffer, Academic Affairs
Dexter Zollicoffer, The Theatre School

Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity Staff:
Elizabeth Ortiz, Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity
Barbara Schaffer, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity
Jose Perales, Director of Operations
Arlette Johnson, EEO Coordinator
Miranda Standberry-Wallace, Diversity Program Coordinator
Charles Snelling, Administrative Assistant

The OIDE actualizes DePaul's Catholic, Vincentian, and Urban character by insuring respect, inclusion, and equity, for all members of our community. The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity is designed to provide resources and organizational integration to effectively coordinate and develop a wide spectrum of services, initiatives, policies and constituent involvement that comprise a comprehensive diversity approach at DePaul University. An essential component of the diversity effort at DePaul is the commitment to diversity as a core value of the institution. The Office of Diversity is also responsible for coordinating the implementation of Goal 3 "DePaul will be a model of Diversity for VISION Twenty12"
Services of OIDE include:

Constituent Relations and Advocacy
Religious Diversity
Training
Programming
Anti-Discriminatory Harassment Policy and Procedures
Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures
Affirmative Action Plan

Reporting to the President of the university, the Vice President is responsible for building transformative alliances with the various university constituencies to maximize their, and the institution's ability to realize the potential of a truly diverse community of faculty, staff and students. This position has the status of an Administrative officer.

The duties include but are not limited to: Advising the president on a wide range of diversity issues, develop, implement, and evaluate programs to maximize diversity, collaboration with Academic Affairs, Human Resources, and Student Affairs on diversity initiatives, assist the president in building relationships with the larger Chicago land community, establish and lead a University Diversity Council, and developing an Audit of diversity initiatives and programs at all levels of the university. The VP is responsible for implementing diversity goals and monitoring the progress of Goal 3 of the organization's strategic plan (Vision Twenty12) DePaul will be a model of Diversity

Report on current diversity and equity committee composition and practices, office status, and/or coordinator position status.
Highlight of Key Accomplishments
1.The establishment of the President’s Diversity Advisory Council in 2006 which work together collaboratively and interdivisional to identify issues of recruitment, retention, and climate for diverse DePaul faculty, staff, and students.
2.The establishment of the Men of Color Initiative: a program designed to support and improve the retention rates of male students of color.
3.The establishment of a Comprehensive Diversity Training Programming that begins with New Employee and Faculty Orientation and continues by collaborating with operational and organizational units throughout campus to include: Human Resource, Office of Compliance, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and various colleges.
4.The establishment by Enrollment Management of a centralized student Retention Initiative that examines improving retention rates for at risk students.
5.The establishment of the Center for Educational Attainment and Access in Enrollment Management.
6.The creation of a Financial Fitness Program in Enrollment Management and Marketing.
7.The establishment of a Diversity Programming proposal process to fund the various diversity initiatives to include a Dr. Martin Luther King Cultural Fund at DePaul University.
8.The creation of a Faculty Exit Interview to ascertain why faculty of color are leaving the institution.
9.The creation of a Faculty Search Guidebook to assist academic departments in the recruitment of a diverse faculty.
10.The implementation of an Affirmative Acton Plan which is required by federal mandate and updated annually.
11.The establishment of a Diversity Programming proposal process to fund the various diversity initiatives at DePaul University.
12.Procurement, OGC, and OIDE worked together to revise DePaul's Vendor Policy and process to include a diversity statement that promotes equal opportunity to women and minority owned business/vendors and to this end Procurement hosted a Minority and Women Vendor Fair in 2007/2008 academic year.
13.The annual Abrahamic Religions Conversations established in May 2007 to engage in religiously grounded conversation among the three world religions claiming to descend from Abraham. This collaborative effort includes partner from the Center for Interreligious Engagement in the Department of Religious Studies of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University Ministry, and the Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
14.Creation of sacred spaces to honor religious diversity: DePaul Hillel Center for Jewish Life and Muslim Life Center (UMIN and Student Affairs)
15.Funding for part-time Chaplin for Muslim life (UMIN and Student Affairs).
16.Recognition of High Holidays at the Presidential Level.
17.Ranked #10 in Diverse Student Population category in the Princeton Review rankings for 2007/2008
18.Ranked in the top 50 3 years in a row in Diversity MBA magazine.