Diversity Blueprints formed for post-Proposal 2 brainstorming

Suggestions are pouring in following a Nov. 21 e-mail announcement of a campuswide effort to address how the University can continue to achieve diversity within new limits of the law resulting from the passage of Proposal 2.

President Mary Sue Coleman and Provost Teresa Sullivan have announced that a task force called Diversity Blueprints will be formed to encourage brainstorming and creative thinking among all segments of the University community on the question, "How can we maintain and enhance diversity at U-M in the years ahead?"

"We know we have a great deal of work to do at the University of Michigan to live up to our ideals of a broadly diverse learning community," Coleman and Sullivan wrote in a message to campus. "This would be true regardless of whether Proposal 2 were approved by Michigan voters. But the passage of the amendment makes this work more urgent, particularly with respect to race, ethnicity, gender and national origin.

"Our University thrives on finding solutions to vexing societal issues. This is an historic moment, and an opportunity to apply our collective creative, energetic thinking to discover the most effective ways to support diversity. We will succeed only if we have thoughtful input from everyone in our community."

The day after the Nov. 7 election, during which 58 percent of voters approved the amendment—which bans discrimination and preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, and national origin in public education, employment, and contracting—Coleman said she would do all that is possible within the law to ensure U-M remains a diverse campus. She also pledged to protect current financial aid commitments, continue outreach to prospective students, and support faculty and staff members who work to advance diversity.

The University may seek clarification from the courts about how to interpret the impact of the amendment on U-M's core operations, Coleman said. The University's next steps in the legal arena have not yet been decided.

The Diversity Blueprints task force will be co-chaired by Sullivan and Lester P. Monts, senior vice provost and special counsel to the president, and will include students, staff, faculty, alumni and administrators.

"We are asking the Diversity Blueprints task force, and our entire community, to leave no stone unturned as we explore ways to encourage diversity within the boundaries of the law," Coleman and Sullivan wrote. "We look forward to your ideas and your energy. Together, we must continue to make this world-class university one that reflects the richness of the world.

"The ideas submitted may range from general insights to detailed plans. In the true spirit of brainstorming, all ideas will be considered regardless of how ambitious or unconventional they may seem. We will commit significant resources to some of the best and most promising recommendations that the Diversity Blueprints task force brings forward.

The task force will seek specific input regarding faculty and staff recruitment, precollege/K-12 outreach, admissions, financial aid, mentoring/student success, climate, curriculum/classroom discussions, diversity research and assessment, and external funding opportunities.

Membership in the task force and information on other ways community members may be involved "such as attending a campus forum" are forthcoming.

Ideas may be shared by writing to Diversity.Blueprints@umich.edu and questions may be submitted to this Diversity.Questions@umich.edu. All questions will go to the Office of Institutional Equity for routing to the appropriate areas for response.