Development program evaluates diversity
Katie Mintz
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: Community News
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The goal of the program is to work toward creating a set of group values that would reflect multiculturality at Gonzaga. The series' sponsors are the Office of Human Resources, the Diversity Office and the staff assembly.
The program was designed to create a shared understanding of how to bring the University's mission to life through appreciating and learning from diversity, according to a Sept. 15 University news release.
Julie McCulloh, dean of admissions, began the discussion by explaining the changing demographics throughout the country and at the University. According to McCulloh, Gonzaga is attracting fewer high-need students despite the increase in graduation rates for minorities.
Between 1993 and 2003, high school graduation rates for African-Americans rose by 10 percent, non-Hispanic whites increased 5 percent and Hispanic-Americans rose 4 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"I love the phrase that came out of the last capital campaign that says, 'Educating the People the World Needs Most,' and yet I say to myself and my colleagues in [the Admissions Office], 'Gosh guys, we're not really reflecting the world, nor are we reflecting the western United States, so what are we going to do about that?'" she said.
McCulloh said that the University is now increasing outreach to populations for whom college expectations are low, but recent cuts to federal aid may make the University financially unattainable for some who are qualified to attend.
Following McCulloh's discussion, Vince Lemus, equal employment opportunity and affirmative action coordinator at Eastern Washington University, took the stage to lead attendees in a value clarification exercise.
"Values are extremely important to us, and often we don't realize how important they are until we are living a value and someone comes up against our values," Lemus said.