Mission
The mission of the UA Little Rock Diversity Council is to improve diversity, inclusion, equality, and global understanding within the campus community by promoting dialogue, providing information, and fostering respect for all students, faculty, and staff.
Specifically, the Council works to:
- Develop strategies to strengthen diverse faculty, staff, and student support and retention;
- Examine the campus climate with a broad definition of diversity including, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, economic status, and/or religious and spiritual practices;
- Take initiative to educate faculty, staff, and students on issues of diversity and provide tools and strategies to promote more inclusive and equitable interactions;
- Comment on policy related issues including ways in which current policy strengthens or detracts from the diversity of the composition of the faculty, staff, and student body;
- Present recommendations to the Chancellor that include strategies, individuals responsible for specific actions, timelines for implementation, and measurable outcomes that reflect continuous improvement of campus climate and diversity
Leadership
The Council leadership will consist of a chair, an associate chair, a secretary, and subcommittee chairs. The chair and the secretary are elected by the members of the Council. The associate chair will be an ex officio member of the Council, typically an Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and will be appointed by the Chancellor. The elected chair serves a two-year term and may serve no more than two consecutive terms and no more than three terms during an eight year period of time. The secretary serves a one-year term with no limit on successive terms. The secretary takes minutes at the meetings, shares the minutes with other members of the council, and posts relevant documents on sites accessible to all members of the council. Together, these seven members comprise the Executive Committee of the Council and may meet as needed to facilitate the work of the Council.
Membership
The Diversity Council has a minimum of 18 members and a maximum of 22 members. Members of the Council are appointed by the Chancellor for two year terms and may be appointed for up to three consecutive terms (total of six years). Members of the campus community may nominate individuals to serve on the Council by sending a nomination letter to the Office of the Chancellor. Those interested in serving may self-nominate by sending a letter of interest to the Office of the Chancellor by April 15th of each academic year. Every effort will be made to maintain broad representation on the Council. Recommended areas of representation are:
- Each academic college (faculty or staff)
- Student Affairs
- Finance and Administration (especially Human Resources)
- Advancement
- Athletics
- At least one student member
- Ex-Officio Member: Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (Associate Chair)
Committees
The Council will have the following standing committees:
- Education Committee: responsible for educational events.
- Data Committee: oversees data collection and surveys.
- Policy Committee: reviews institutional policies and makes recommendations to the Council about diversity related policy issues.
- Marketing and Communication Committee: responsible for communication with the campus community, developing flyers for events, and updating the website.
In addition, the Council, with a simple majority vote of its membership, may create ad hoc committees to carry out tasks that do not fall under the scope of the standing committees.
Each member of the Council will be asked to join one of the standing committees. The committees will select from their membership a chair and a secretary.
Frequency of meetings
- The Council will meet at least two times during the fall and spring semesters at a time agreed upon by the majority of the membership.
- The committees of the Council will meet as needed to conduct their business.
Annual Report
An annual report summarizing activities, outcomes, recommendations, and goals for next year is submitted to the Chancellor each year by July 31.