University of Kentucky
PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The UK Commission on Excellence, Diversity and Inclusion (which supplants the former President’s Commission on Diversity and the former President’s Commission on Women) is an issues-oriented and Task Force driven commission. Focused on assisting the Office with Goal IV of the University Strategic Plan: Promote Diversity and Inclusion. Towards achievement of this goal, OID serves the entire university community and provides support and collaboration to the Office for Community Engagement.

The Commission on Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion is comprised of the Office of Institutional Diversity Advisory Council (members are representatives from each of the colleges) and the various task forces under that council to include: o Black Male Initiative Task Force o Academic Support Enrichment Task Force o Hispanic/Latino Task Force o LGBT Task Force o Partner Career Opportunities Task Force o Task Force on Women’s Career and Leadership Development

Central to the work of UK’s Office for Institutional Diversity (OID) is Goal IV of the University Strategic Plan: Promote Diversity and Inclusion. Towards achievement of this goal, OID serves the entire university community and provides support and collaboration to the Office for Community Engagement. The vice president, assistant vice president and OID directors work across academic and non-academic units to implement ideas, collaborate on outreach and recruitment efforts, and to enhance student retention and achievement. OID staff provide consultation and assistance to the various colleges in developing diversity and inclusion strategies and metrics in their individual strategic plans. We work with the Office for Institutional Research and Institutional Effectiveness to help both academic and non-academic units make sense and use of data collected on students, faculty and staff, particularly as the information has implications for campus climate and inclusiveness efforts. OID works closely with the Office for Community Engagement in support of UK’s community outreach and service efforts. Issues of grievances, workplace conflicts and Affirmative Action should be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity.

Judy "J.J." Jackson Dr. Judy “J.J.” Jackson became UK’s first Vice President for Institutional Diversity on July 1, 2008. Dr. Jackson advises President Capilouto and Provost Subbaswamy on all academic, fiscal and administrative policy decisions regarding the university’s diversity goals; on developing, implementing and evaluating the university’s diversity plan; and on active community involvement around diversity issues. She is the senior administrative officer responsible for promoting collaboration among faculty, staff, administration and students in earnest pursuit of UK's diversity goals. She also holds a tenured associate professorship in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation.