Diversifying Faculty and Staff at EIU: The Quality Initiative Proposal
Start Date
16-10-2020 10:00 AM
End Date
16-10-2020 10:50 AM
Document Type
Presentation
Abstract
The Higher Learning Commission recently approved Eastern Illinois University’s Open Pathways Quality Initiative Proposal, “Diversifying Eastern Faculty and Staff for Student Success.” The primary goal of the project is to increase student success (e.g., retention, academic achievement, and graduate rates) by increasing the diversity of EIU’s faculty and staff to levels that are representative of the increasing diversity of the institution’s student population. The purpose of this presentation will be to generate interest in the project and to solicit feedback as we proceed with data collection and look ahead to creating a strategic plan.
Over the last 15 years EIU has seen a steady increase in the diversity of its students, from 10.5% non-white students in 2005 to 31.5% in Fall 2019. In comparison, only 13.8% of the employees (faculty, staff, and administration) identify as non-White. Research has shown that faculty of color tend to engage in scholarship and practices that support a diverse student population. Research has demonstrated the positive impact a diverse faculty has on the academic success of students of color.[1] Students of color have reported feeling more positive experiences at institutions where staff members and those in authority look like them.
This project entails the development and implementation of strategies for the successful recruitment, hiring, and retention of faculty and staff members of color. In the presentation, we will briefly outline the process by which the University selected the project. Then we will describe the three phases from data collection (the current phase) to strategic plan development (starting next semester) and implementation, which will start in Fall 2021. Although our report to the HLC will be due in 2024, we anticipate that the project will be ongoing.
The project is being carried out by a large committee of faculty, staff, and administrators from across the university. The four presenters include Jeff Stowell, who is EIU’s HLC liaison and who leads the QI Project. The other three presenters, Drs. Polydore, Elder, and Vietto, chair the three main subcommittees of the project.
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Diversifying Faculty and Staff at EIU: The Quality Initiative Proposal
The Higher Learning Commission recently approved Eastern Illinois University’s Open Pathways Quality Initiative Proposal, “Diversifying Eastern Faculty and Staff for Student Success.” The primary goal of the project is to increase student success (e.g., retention, academic achievement, and graduate rates) by increasing the diversity of EIU’s faculty and staff to levels that are representative of the increasing diversity of the institution’s student population. The purpose of this presentation will be to generate interest in the project and to solicit feedback as we proceed with data collection and look ahead to creating a strategic plan.
Over the last 15 years EIU has seen a steady increase in the diversity of its students, from 10.5% non-white students in 2005 to 31.5% in Fall 2019. In comparison, only 13.8% of the employees (faculty, staff, and administration) identify as non-White. Research has shown that faculty of color tend to engage in scholarship and practices that support a diverse student population. Research has demonstrated the positive impact a diverse faculty has on the academic success of students of color.[1] Students of color have reported feeling more positive experiences at institutions where staff members and those in authority look like them.
This project entails the development and implementation of strategies for the successful recruitment, hiring, and retention of faculty and staff members of color. In the presentation, we will briefly outline the process by which the University selected the project. Then we will describe the three phases from data collection (the current phase) to strategic plan development (starting next semester) and implementation, which will start in Fall 2021. Although our report to the HLC will be due in 2024, we anticipate that the project will be ongoing.
The project is being carried out by a large committee of faculty, staff, and administrators from across the university. The four presenters include Jeff Stowell, who is EIU’s HLC liaison and who leads the QI Project. The other three presenters, Drs. Polydore, Elder, and Vietto, chair the three main subcommittees of the project.
Speaker Information
Sace Elder
Professor and Chair, Department of History, Eastern Illinois University, SelectedWorks
Catherine Polydore
Professor, Counseling and Higher Education, Assistant Dean, Honors College, Eastern Illinois University, SelectedWorks
Jeffrey Stowell
Professor, Department of Psychology, Eastern Illinois University, SelectedWorks
Angela Vietto
Professor and Chair, Department of English, Eastern Illinois University, SelectedWorks