Staff Report
UNM's Special Assistant for Diversity Robert Ibarra is creating an innovative "Blue Ribbon Committee," in which select faculty members will collaborate in addressing diversity issues in academic affairs on campus.
The committee, whose members were picked to provide an accurate scope of the varying perspectives within the UNM community, "will work on a variety of diversity issues that include guiding special data reporting projects, enhancing traditional recruitment, promotion and retention activities, monitoring diversity tactics in the strategic plan, and advising funded research projects on diversity and promoting unique initiatives associated with a new multicultural model for diversity that is now emerging on campus," Ibarra said in a UNM press release.
Ibarra, who was nominated to his position by former UNM President William Gordon after a nationwide search, works to enhance the recruitment and retention of women and minorities in faculty and staff positions at UNM.
Ibarra's strategy for increasing diversity at UNM has remained based on three elements since his nomination to the position earlier this year -- increasing the number of faculty and staff of minority descent, improving retention efforts for them and creating ways for a multicultural environment to thrive.
Ibarra is inviting faculty, including both main and branch campus faculty who have been nominated by their deans, Provost Brian Foster and President Chris Garcia to serve on the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"For decades, administrators at most research universities have attempted to improve campus diversity through their human resources offices or with help from student services programs and personnel," Ibarra said. "Consequently, few universities have initiatives that address faculty diversity beyond the hiring and promotion process."
The formation of the committee is among other efforts Ibarra has initiated. He said he is working on the compilation of a "diversity report" that will provide an inventory of UNM's existing diversity programs.
Additionally, he is working to identify funding to support new diversity initiatives throughout campus.
Ibarra said diversity issues on campus have grown more complex.
"They involve larger concerns associated with academic culture and campus climate that requires more systematic solutions and more sustained faculty involvement," Ibarra said.
That, he said, forms the premise for the creation of the faculty committee.
Ibarra will play a key role in helping UNM achieve its diversity goals, reporting directly to Garcia. He has said that his first priority is to meet with various departments and examine current activities and programs, judging their effectiveness for increasing on-campus diversity.
