Raymond Cross, UM law professor and chair of the Diversity Advisory Council, will be the keynote speaker, and the Chinese Student Association will participate in opening and closing ceremonies. He said so far UM is making a good push. Couture said the 1990 Board of Regents implemented a minority achievement policy in part to increase enrollment, retention and graduation of various ethnic groups. The UM Diversity Advisory Council was then formed and worked toward that goal, Couture said, but has expanded more recently to embrace more groups. Couture said when people think of diversity they should think not only of other ethnic and cultural groups but groups such as students with disabilities and homosexual groups.
Diversity is all inclusive.
The awards have been given annually for nine years, and two years ago the name was changed from the Minority Achievement Award to its current title, Couture said. A subcommittee judged the nominees on criteria including a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and contributions to cultural diversity such as serving as role models, voluntarily providing service above and beyond expectations, and helping others to gain greater understanding of diversity and multiculturalism. Thirteen winners were chosen out of 19 nominees, and awards will be presented at the Wednesday ceremony. Molly Moon Neitzel, ASUM president and award recipient, said she's not sure exactly why she won, but said she tries to promote diversity in everything she does. I'm really honored.