The colleges were awarded the grants based on proposals they submitted last semester, which contained fresh perspectives on what could be done to weave a more visible recognition of diversity issues into the colleges' missions. The four colleges are now shaping their goals and getting ready to put their new diversity programs into action. But even though they're separate, they work for one diversity. Nacoste said the call was sent out for proposals to encourage the colleges to examine any previous work toward diversity and come up with their own plan, as opposed to being forced to make changes in a rigid format. We didn't impose on the colleges what they should do, but provided an opportunity for them to look at themselves and ask what they can do to be more innovative.
Innovation highlights the fresh crop of plans that the colleges are eager to implement.
PAMS was awarded a grant for Project Preserve, a drive to retain and graduate minority Ph.D.s in Physics. The program would include faculty release time for tutoring, various seminars covering minorities in physics topics, MA 105 in the form of a ten-week summer course, mentoring, monetary allocations for student conferences and textbooks and refined recruiting strategies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The College of Design proposal outlined more efforts for recruiting minority students by creating a five-activity plan. The college will enhance development of visibility of minority design contributions, send more faculty on school visits, bring more prospective students to visit design studios, provide scholarships to design camps and sharpen Web site development. Classroom issues highlighting diversity, such as collaborative learning, tutoring, and sensitivity workshops for faculty and assistants will be put in place.