Update on campus diversity initiatives

Dear UAA Community,

I am writing today with an additional update on various campus committees and initiatives with a focus on our efforts to enhance and support diversity and inclusion on campus.

Now in its 19th year at UAA, the Diversity Action Council is up and running for 2019-20. Vice Chancellor Bruce Schultz continues as co-chair and invites up to two individuals to join him in leading the efforts of this group to implement elements of UAA's Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

We have extended our search for a Chief Diversity Officer. We are in the process of engaging a search consultant to assist us and will form a search committee soon.

Our Campus Climate Committee also has launched for 2019-20. Sara Childress, Kim Morton and Bruce Schultz will recruit a number of subcommittees to assist in implementing recommendations from last year's committee, that focus on better serving members of the LGBTQ+ community at UAA.

We continue to support the Multicultural Pre-Professoriate Fellowship, which seeks to increase the diversity of those teaching at UAA and to support multicultural teaching and scholarship. We currently have five fellows on our campuses and the Office of the Provost will support the recruitment of an additional two fellows during the 2019-20 academic year.

I already outlined plans to enhance services and support to our Alaska Native students, including recruitment of a new director for Native Student Services. We just hired a new Alaska Native, Indigenous and Rural Outreach Program Coordinator for the Cama-i Room and look forward to sharing more with the campus community in the coming days. You may recall the hiring freeze imposed over the summer affected both of these recruitments.

Other initiatives

Given heavy workloads and additional efforts to support UA reorganization plans, I have decided not to establish any new task forces this academic year. As stated in my previous message, we will put some efforts on pause and will continue to implement others.

However, in response to strong faculty, staff and student support, I have agreed to establish two working groups to explore collaborations and move work forward during the academic year. These two groups include:

• Climate Change Working Group, led by Micah Hahn
• Women and Gender Studies Working Group, led by Nelta Edwards and Kimberly Pace

Thanks to all of you who contribute to these important initiatives. As we work through the many changes before us, it is good to know we remain committed and moving forward for the betterment of our community.

Sincerely,
Cathy Sandeen
UAA Chancellor