The University of Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity held its annual meeting in Denver on June 4 to review the university's progress on diversity issues and plans.
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| From left to right, University of Colorado Regent Michael Carrigan, CU President Bruce D. Benson, CU-Boulder Vice Chancellor for Diversity Dr. Sallye McKee, and CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano were on hand during the annual Blue Ribbon Commission for Diversity. (Photo by Elizabeth Collins) |
All of the university's chief diversity officers were on hand to update commission members about programs and efforts to recruit and retain faculty and students of color to CU campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.
Zen Camacho, vice provost and assistant vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion at UC Denver; Sallye McKee, vice chancellor for diversity at CU-Boulder; and Kee Warner, associate vice chancellor for diversity at UCCS presented highlights of their work over the past year.
Benson welcomed the diversity officers, commission members, chancellors and provosts, and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing diversity in all its forms across the CU system.
"I do want to stress to you that this is something that's very high on my list," the president told the commission during his second meeting with members since taking office. "Its' something I've worked on for years and I plan on spending more and more time on it. We have to make sure we provide education for everybody."
Benson explained that budget woes forced his office to phase out the position of the system administration's diversity officer. Carmen Williams, assistant vice president for diversity, came out of retirement in 2004 to head up diversity efforts for the university. She will retire again in December, leaving campus diversity officers to collaborate on systemwide efforts.
But several commission members questioned system administration's decision to eliminate Williams' position, including Sandra Moore-Mann, a community investment manager with Mile High United Way, and a commission member since its 2005 inception.
"I think it sends a message when you have a diversity position right in your office. I think it's important," she told Benson. "I don't think we should think about taking any portions of our diversity (efforts) out of place. We don't have a completely welcoming environment at the University of Colorado. Not yet."
Benson told Moore-Mann and other commission members that he was not opposed to revisiting the idea of having a diversity liaison in the president's office in the future if the campuses felt it would be the right thing to do.
For now, though, "We have three very impressive people on the campuses," he said.
Established by former CU President Hank Brown in 2005, the commission comprises university alumni, former state lawmakers, students and other influential and well-respected Colorado community leaders. The commission's mission is to help CU explore ways of recruiting and retaining more students of diverse ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, and creating more welcoming and academically productive campus environments for everyone.
This year, Benson expanded membership to include members from outside the Denver metropolitan region as part of his efforts to promote CU statewide.
Williams is working with the university's chief diversity officers to ensure a seamless transition after her position is phased out at the end of the calendar year.
Despite the progress CU has made over the past six years, she said the university must continue to commit itself to recruiting and retaining students and faculty of color, especially as the state's population becomes more ethnically diverse. One way to do that, she said, is through continued support of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity.
"I believe (the commission) has been very influential, and their input has been listened to, and moreover, incorporated into the diversity plans on the campuses," Williams said.
