Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.92
Liaison Leslie North
Submission Date Aug. 15, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Western Kentucky University
PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a diversity and equity committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee or a brief description of the committee's purview and activities :

The mission of Western Kentucky University is to prepare students to be productive, engaged, socially responsible citizens and leaders of a global society. The success of these future leaders is enhanced through the encouragement and support of faculty, staff, and community, as well as a willingness to embrace the multiple dimensions of diversity. The encompassing dimensions of diversity involve an appreciation of the differences and unique contributions represented by individual identity, opinion, and culture. Differences may be represented through areas such as race, gender, ethnicity, language, religion, sexual orientation, geographic location, abilities or disabilities, and socioeconomic status.

Western Kentucky University places a premium on teaching and student learning and growth; therefore, it is important for the University to seek achievement of diversity among its faculty, staff and student populations. As stated in the University’s Strategic Plan, Challenging the Spirit, three (3) of the five (5) Strategic Goals relate to the importance of diversity in the development of culturally responsible citizens, growing a high quality and diverse student body, and enhancing the climate for diversity and collegiality. The Strategic Plan’s performance indicators include the engagement of the Chief Diversity Officer who has direct access to the President. A Presidential appointed Diversity Enhancement Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Chief Diversity Officer who is responsible for overseeing diversity initiatives, continuous improvement in meeting diversity goals, and establishing a Diversity Plan for the University.

As a leading American university with international reach, Western Kentucky University insists on a welcoming environment in which it is committed to promoting acceptance, providing support, and encouraging diversity. Embracing diversity is an essential component to maintaining the University’s efforts toward connecting faculty, staff, and student populations in striving for a high standard of excellence and success. The University is committed to recognizing and supporting meritorious talent and achievement by supporting diversity and equal opportunity in its educational and community/global service obligations. The University’s dedication and persistence in its efforts to promote and strengthen its diversity initiatives serves as an institutional priority in which valuable contributions towards recruitment, retention and advancement of students, faculty, and staff may be realized.

In summary, Western Kentucky University is committed to focusing on and espousing the values of diversity as well as recognizing how these values contribute to the preparation of productive, engaged and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society.


Members of the committee, including job titles and affiliations :

Dr. Monica G. Burke
Assistant Professor,
Counseling and Student Affairs Dept. and Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer
417 C Tate Page Hall
270-745-8997
monica.burke@wku.edu

Ms. Pamela M. Herriford
Associate Director
Athletics
Diddle Arena 1402
270-745-6062
pam.herriford@wku.edu

Mr. Quentin M. Hollis
Assistant Professor
Liberal Arts & Science
Bowling Green Community College
South Campus 130
270-780-2563
quentin.hollis@wku.edu

Dr. Aaron W. Hughey
Professor
Counseling and Student Affairs
Tate Page Hall 417
270-745-4953
aaron.hughey@wku.edu

Mrs. Sharon E. Hunter
Institutional Research Database Analyst
Wetherby Administration Bldg 330
270-745-3250
sharon.hunter@wku.edu

Dr. Karl S. Laves
Interim Director
Counseling and Testing Center
Potter Hall 409
270-745-3159
karl.laves@wku.edu

Mrs. Huda N. Melky
Director
Office of Equal Opportunity/504/ADA Compliance
Wetherby Administration Bldg G33
270-745-5121
huda.melky@wku.edu

Dr. Brian Meredith
Associate Vice President
Enrollment Management
Wetherby Administration Bldg 212
Brian.meredith@wku.edu

Dr. Richard C. Miller, Committee Chair
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer
Wetherby Administration Bldg 239
270-745-5468
richard.c.miller@wku.edu

Dr. Zubair M. Mohamed
Department Chair
Department of Management
Grise Hall 202
270-745-6360
zubair.Mohamed@wku.edu

Tracey E. Moore
Assistant Professor
Theatre and Dance Department
Gordon Wilson Hall, 300
270-745-2849
tracey.moore@wku.edu

Mrs. Martha J. Sales
Director
Talent Search
Jones Jaggers 100-B
270-745-2135
martha.sales@wku.edu

Dr. Saundra H. Starks
Associate Professor
Social Work Department
Academic Complex 114
270-745-2692
(University Senate Representative)
saundra.starks@wku.edu

Ms. Jessica G. Staten
Retention Coordinator
Academic Advising and Retention Center
Downing University Center A-330
270-745-5065
Jessica.staten@wku.edu

Judy Walker
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
South Campus 149C
Judy.walker@wku.edu

Deborah T. Wilkins. J.D.
General Council
Wetherby Administration Bldg 135
270-745-5398
deborah.wilkins@wku.edu

Mr. Abraham Williams
Director Housing Authority of Bowling Green
P.O. Box 116
Bowling Green, KY 42102
270-843-6071
awilliams@habg.org

Mrs. Finley C. Woodard
Associate Director
Office of Admissions
Potter Hall 117
270-745-2551
finley.Woodard@wku.edu


The website URL where information about the diversity and equity committee is available:
Does the institution have a diversity and equity office?:
Yes

A brief description of the diversity office:

The Office of Diversity Programs is intentional in its service delivery (i.e., leadership workshops, mentoring, co-operations, collaborations, etc.,) and our programs (I.e. lectures, speakers, forums, etc.) will be marketed university wide for the benefit of the entire WKU population.


The number of people employed in the diversity office:
9

The website URL where information about the diversity and equity office is available:
Does the institution have a diversity and equity coordinator?:
Yes

Diversity coordinator’s name:
These are two separate offices. Dr. Richard C. Miller is the Chief Diversity Officer and Ms. Huda Melky is the Director of the Equal Opportunity Office

Diversity coordinator's position title:
These are two separate offices. Dr. Richard C. Miller is the Chief Diversity Officer and Ms. Huda Melke is the Director of the Equal Opportunity Office.

A brief description of the diversity coordinator's position:

Richard C. Miller, Chief Diversity Officer
1) Ensure achieved status in all eight categories of the Kentucky Plan, the state’s set of mandated measurables;
2) Play a central role in the development and promotion of diversity programs across the campus and in the broader Bowling Green area community;
3) Lead the University in ongoing discussions and definition of diversity to promote inclusion and acceptance of differences among people;
4) Promote diversity in learning outcomes and international learning experiences;
5) Assist in efforts to increase the hiring and retention of minority faculty and staff;
6) Assist in efforts to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation of minority students, and prepare as many as possible for graduate school at WKU;
7) Monitor achievement of diversity indicators in the WKU Strategic Plan; and
8) Select and administer the President’s Award for Diversity.
9) Serve as Chair of the WKU Diversity Enhancement Committee.

Huda Melky is the Equal Opportunity Director and ADA Coordinator for Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services at Western Kentucky University. Her responsibilities include monitoring the University’s compliance with federal, state, and local legislation governing nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action, university programs inclusive of Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (as amended).

Ms. Melky conducts workshops dealing with sexual harassment, diversity and disability issues, oversees recruitment, hiring, promotions, terminations, grievances, salaries, and other terms of employment regarding Affirmative Action programs. In addition, she serves on the University Diversity Advisory Board and is the Regional Director to the American Association for Affirmative Action. Since 1990, Ms. Melky has also served as Chair for the Higher Education ADA Task Force and is currently a member.


The website URL where information about the diversity and equity coordinator is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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