July 16, 2001

MEMORANDUM

TO:              Deans, Directors, and Department Chairs

FROM:         C. D. Mote, Jr.

SUBJECT:    Implementation of Diversity Panel Recommendations

          In response to the recommendations of the campus Diversity Panel chaired by Dr. Claire Moses and Dr. Raymond Johnson, I constituted an ad-hoc advisory committee to review the campus equity system and our implementation of the human relations code. The charges given to this advisory committee were:

1. To examine the effectiveness of the current system of administering the human relations code; to recommend changes in the system as needed; and to examine the respective roles of the Office of Human Relations, the Equity Council, and the Department of Personnel Services in the functions of the equity system.
   
   
2. To recommend one or more means by which campus equity/diversity issues can be brought to the President and the President's Cabinet.

Dean Irwin Goldstein chaired the advisory committee and its membership included Ms. Susan Bayly, Dr. Vivian Boyd, Dr. Marylu McEwen, and Dr. Robert Waters. After deliberations and meetings with all the parties involved in the campus equity system, the committee has submitted its final report, a copy of which is enclosed for your information. You will also find the complete report posted on the web at www.umd.edu/PRES/initiatives.html and you may request additional hard copies by calling Ms. Shanti Nanan, administrative assistant in my office, at ext. 55801.

I am writing to summarize the committee's primary recommendations and inform you of the actions I have taken in response to them.

Committee Recommendations

The Goldstein Committee recommended that a position in the President's Office be charged with providing leadership and advocacy for issues of equity and diversity. It also recommended that the person appointed to fill this position serve on the President's Cabinet and function as the link between policy and implementation for the President's Cabinet and the Council of Deans.

The committee also recommended that this person be given overall responsibility for the offices and activities related to issues of equity and diversity including the Equity Council, Human Relations Office, the President's Commissions (representing the President) and the faculty and staff Ombuds officers. This individual will also be charged with working with all of the other University offices involved in the equity system to ensure better coordination. The position will also have the responsibility of seeing that multiple communications mechanisms are developed to ensure that all members of the university community receive clear information about ways to engage the equity and conflict resolution systems.

The Goldstein committee also suggested forming an executive committee of the Equity Council and replacing the Diversity and Accountability Plan as presently designed by a system of periodic and regular equity reviews of campus units.

Actions Taken

In response to the many excellent recommendations, I have taken several steps to strengthen the equity and human relations systems at the University and reinforce the University's commitment to diversity and community. I have asked Dr. Robert Waters Jr., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, to serve as Special Assistant to the President for Equity and Diversity and take the lead in implementing the recommendations outlined in the Goldstein Committee Report. He will serve on the President's Cabinet, report to the President and provide leadership for the campus on issues of equity and diversity. The President's Commissions have been important and successful advisory vehicles for promoting equity and diversity on campus, and Dr. Waters will serve as a link to the President and the Cabinet for these important groups.

As recommended in the Goldstein Report, the reporting structures have been reorganized under Dr. Waters' supervision as of July 1, 2001. In addition, Dr. Waters will work with the equity administrators from the President's Office and from the divisions of Academic Affairs, Administrative Affairs, University Relations, and Student Affairs, to help coordinate the work done by the members of the Equity Council, the Conflict Resolution Network, and the Graduate Student Ombudsperson. He will also oversee the implementation of changes to the Equity Council as recommended in the Goldstein Report.

I have every confidence that Dr. Waters will assist us in better coordinating the offices and these functions and in promoting community-building activities across the campus.

In accordance with the final recommendation, Dr. Waters will chair a committee, soon to be appointed by me, to review the purpose of the Diversity Accountability Initiative Plan and make recommendations to the Cabinet for a process of departmental and unit reviews that will better address the current opportunities and challenges the University faces in its commitment to diversity and equity.

I am very excited about this new opportunity to extend our campus leadership in this important area. I would like to thank the members of the advisory committee for their diligent work, thoughtfulness, and dedication. I would also like to thank Dean Irwin Goldstein for his significant contributions to the University of Maryland as chair of this committee.

CDM:js
Enclosure
cc: Members of the Equity Council and the President's Commissions