New Mexico State University
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

OBJECTIVE 1: Increase and communicate the diversity of students, faculty, staff, and university leadership; examine the degree of diversity of each department in the academic affairs colleges; develop a plan with specific goals for increasing diversity; focus college recruitment and retention efforts to diversify faculty and staff Actions: Identify and examine underrepresented faculty and staff of the college/division; identify and examine underrepresented student populations for the college/division; develop and communicate college/division diversity plans; implement diversity staffing plans and diversify search processes; focus student recruitment and retention efforts to diversify degree recipients at all academic levels; implement student recruitment and diversity plans OBJECTIVE 2: Shape the student population in undergraduate and graduate degree programs to reflect the diversity of NM; develop recruitment and financial aid plans designed to increase and sustain diversity and access Action: Employ the Enrollment Management Council with college support to develop and implement a recruitment and aid plan OBJECTIVE 3: Reflect a commitment to the diversity of NM and the border region in research and creative activity, including partnerships and service activity; implement projects that focus on issues of particular relevance to NM and the border region Action: Develop internal programs (small grants, workshops) to assist faculty in developing research and creative projects specific to the region OBJECTIVE 4: Reflect a commitment to diversity, including that of NM and the border region, in instructional programs, in general education, within the major, and in student support programs; fully develop a diversity-focused instructional curriculum program Actions: Employ a task force to review diversity-focused curriculum and catalog relevant instructional activities; develop a comprehensive program focused on diversity, addressing cross-cultural awareness and facilitating communication among diverse constituents The following is a list of NMSU affinity groups for faculty and staff: ADVANCE Advancing Leaders Black Studies Programs “Building the Vision” subcommittee (Diversity Strategic Plan) Diversity Committee for the College of Arts and Sciences (faculty) Diversity Councils (faculty, staff and students) Transgender student group (http://gda.nmsu.edu/) LGBT Student Group (https://www.facebook.com/stonewall.qsa) Hispanic Faculty Staff Caucus Hispanic Serving Institution Committee President’s Commission on the Status of Women Tribal Voices Working Group University Cultural Collections Committee The Diversity Committee was established in 1990 and renamed the Diversity Council in 2004. NMSU recently (2012) subdivided the Diversity Council into three groups: faculty, staff and students. We are now revising and forming a Faculty Diversity Council ( http://provost.nmsu.edu/diversity-resources/ ), Staff Diversity Council, and a Student Diversity Council ( http://www.nmsu.edu/diversity/osd-programs.html ).

Training through HR and through Office of Institutional Equity (Federal EEOC, "Dealing with difficult people", and civility training, etc.) Every employee (student, faculty and staff) was required to take Compliance Training. NMSU is committed to providing a safe and harassment free environment for its students, employees and visitors, and equal employment opportunities in all areas of occupation. These training sessions were a requirement and employees were let go who did not complete the training. The LGBT Programs offers sexual and gender diversity training for faculty, staff, and students across the entire campus. Training covers policy and cultural competency related to minority sexuality and genders. http://lgbt.nmsu.edu/presentations/

New Mexico State University, the state's land grant university, is a public, minority–serving institution, and as such, needs to make a conscientious effort to adjust their outreach for the increasingly diverse student population. As individuals of minority status continue to increase on campus, New Mexico State University must prepare faculty and staff to be sensitive to the cultural differences of a diverse student population. Faculty and staff members must be trained in how to educate all populations equally. However, in order to effectively train faculty and staff to meet the needs of a diverse student population, it is necessary to examine the direct needs, concerns and expectations of the students. We also give Diversity Stoles to many different groups across campus: http://lgbt.nmsu.edu/rainbow-graduation/ http://asnmsu.nmsu.edu/get-involved/homecoming/student-diversity-board/