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Diversity Plan

FACULTY APPROVED September 16, 2016

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SchoolofJournalismandMassCommunicationDiversityPlan

Fall2016

DiversityStatement

TheKentStateUniversitySchoolofJournalismandMassCommunication(JMCorTheSchool)recognizestheimportanceofadiversefaculty,staffandstudentbodyandembracestheconceptthatdiversitywillfostertheacknowledgement,empowermentandinclusionofanyperson.

JMCteachesthehistory,culture,valuesandnotableachievementofpersonswhorepresenttheworld’sdiversecommunity.Themissionoftheschoolistoofferastrongcurriculum,enrichedbyalegalandethicalfoundation,whichrecruits,retains,promotesandhiresfromthisdiversecommunity.

JMCbelievesthatthehighestlevelsofsuccess,knowledgeandprogressarisewhenwelearnfromotherswhoarenotofourownnationalorigin,race,ethnicity,religion,sexualorientation,age,genderidentity,genderexpression,physicalandmentalabilityandsocialclass.Wewelcomethemanyopportunitiestoexaminechallengesthatmayarisefromdifferences.

BackgroundandContext

TheSchoolhasidentifiedfourdimensionsinwhichtoconcentrateitseffortsindiversity:

1. InstitutionalClimate,CultureandCommunityRelationships2. StudentAccess,RetentionandRecruitment3. EducationandScholarship,and4. InstitutionalAccountability

ThesedimensionsarealignedwiththestandardssetforthbyKentStateUniversity’sStrategicRoadmaptoaDistinctiveKentState,includingtheVision,MissionandCoreValuesoftheuniversityandKentStateUniversity’sPrioritiesandUniversity-LevelInitiatives,theAccreditingCouncilforEducationinJournalismandMassCommunication,(ACEJMC)andtheKentStateUniversityEquityActionPlan.

TheJMCDiversityPlanidentifiesstudents,facultyandstaffwithintheSchoolwhofallwithinhistoricallyunderrepresentedandunderservedgroups.Additionally,thePlanidentifiesstudentswhorepresentdiversityinavarietyofways,includingbutnotlimitedtorace,culture,nationalorigin,ethnicity,religion,beliefs,socialclass,socioeconomicstatus,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentity,genderexpression,physicalormentalability,age,bodysize/type/shape,maritalstatus,parentalstatus,andmilitaryandveteranstatusinaccordancewiththebroaddefinitionofthetermrecognizedbytheKentStateStudentAccessibilityOffice,theKentStateDivisionofDiversity,EquityandInclusion,andtheCollegeofCommunicationandInformationOfficeofAcademicDiversityOutreach.

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JMChasdevelopedgoalsthatsupporteachofthefourdimensions.Eachgoal’salignmentwithACEJMCandtheuniversity’sprioritiesandkeyinitiativesassetforthbytheStrategicRoadmaparelistedbelow,alongwiththeexpectedoutcomes,implementationinitiativesandmeasurementmetricsforeachgoal.ResultsofthemetricsfromeachofthedimensionswillbetabulatedandanalyzedinanannualreporttotheJMCfaculty.

ThisdimensionfocusesontheJMCenvironmentwithitsprevailingattitudes,standardsand/orenvironmentalconditions–withrespecttovariousgroupswithintheuniversitycommunity.

1)InstitutionalClimate,CultureandCommunityRelationships:

Thegoalistounderstandtheperspectivesandneedsoftheschoolcommunityandtocreatesupportiveenvironmentsbywayofbuildingcommunity,trustandcredibilityforallgroups,includinginternalandexternalcollaborativepartnersofJMC.

ACEJMCDiversityGoal:Theunithasaclimatethatisfreeofharassmentandallformsofdiscrimination,inkeepingwiththeacceptableculturalpracticesofthepopulationitserves,accommodatestheneedsofthosewithdisabilities,andvaluesthecontributionsofallformsofdiversity.

KentStateUniversityInitiatives:

Initiative1.4:Strengthendiversityandtheculturalcompetenceofstudents,facultyandstaffsystemwideInitiative2.3:Implementa“GreatPlaceInitiative”thatprioritizesattentiontothediversehumanelementoftheuniversityInitiative4.2:Enhanceandadvance,systemwide,university/communityengagementeffortsInitiative5.1:Createahealthycampusinitiativethatprioritizesthehealthandwellnessofstudents,facultyandstaff

ExpectedOutcome

1. Awelcomingandinclusiveenvironmentreflectiveofalldimensionsofdiversity

Implementation

1. IncludeJMC’sdiversitystatementonallJMCsyllabiandencouragefacultytoreadandpromoteitatthebeginningofclasstodemonstrateJMC’scommitmenttocreatingasupportiveenvironmentintheclassroomandintheschool.

2. Providepurposefulintellectualandsocialdevelopmentthroughavarietyofprograms(e.g.reunions,yieldevents,speakerseries,recognitionevents,etc.)forstudents,faculty,staff,alumniandthecommunitytoenhancetheunderstandingofdiversity,inclusiveofallgroups,globalawarenessandglobalcitizenry.

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3. ProvideopportunitiesfortheleadershipoftheStudentVoiceTeam,JMC’sstudentadvisoryboard,tocommunicatedirectlywiththeJMCfacultyandstaffonissuesofdiversityandinclusion.

4. Engagealumnifromunderrepresentedorunderservedgroupsindiversityandinclusionefforts.

5. Encouragestudentgroups(studentmedia,KSUIndependentFilms,FranklinAdClub,PRSSA,etc.)andtheiradvisorstoadoptdomesticandglobalculturaldiversityinitiativesandactivitiesintheirannualprograms.

Metrics

1. Keepalistofrelevanteventsintheannualdiversityprogressreporttohighlightandkeepdiversityprogramstop-of-mindforourfacultyandstaff.

2. PeriodicallymeasureJMCstudent,staffandfacultyperceptionsthroughfocusgroupsorsurveysregardingtheclassroomandlivingenvironmentatKSUwithspecialattentiongiventoissuesofdiversityandinclusion.

3. EngagetheStudentVoiceTeamwithcapturinganddocumentingissuesandaccoladesrelatedtodiversitywithintheschool.

2)StudentAccess,Recruitment,andSuccess:

ThegoalistoincreaseengagementofunderrepresentedandunderservedstudentgroupstoprovidestrongerbondsthatwillenhanceacademicgoalswithinJMC.Themainareaoffocusforthisdimensionisrecruitmentandretentiontointentionallyaidunderrepresentedandunderservedstudentstoenter,persistandgraduatefromtheuniversity.

ACEJMCDiversityGoal:Theunitdemonstrateseffectiveeffortstohelprecruitandretainastudentpopulationreflectingthediversityofthepopulationeligibletoenrollininstitutionsofhighereducationintheregionorpopulationitserves,withspecialattentiontorecruitmentofunderrepresentedgroups.

KentStateUniversityInitiatives:

Initiative1.1:Enhanceandexpandstudentsuccessprogramssystemwidetoimproveretentionandgraduationrates

ThefirstpriorityfortheKentStatestrategicroadmapis“StudentsFirst,”andthisdimensionreflectsthatbyfocusingongreaterinclusionandsuccessofhistoricallyunderrepresentedandunderservedstudentgroups.Thisdimensionalsoaddressesthechallengesforbroaderstudentpopulationssuchasinternationalstudents.

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ExpectedOutcomes

1. AhealthyandappropriatelevelofrecruitmentofdiversestudentswhencomparedtotheoveralluniversitymeasureandthatofselectKentStatedepartmentsandschools

2. AhealthyandappropriatelevelofretentionofdiversestudentswhencomparedtotheoveralluniversitymeasureandthatofselectKentStatedepartmentsandschools

3. Healthyandappropriatefourandsix-yeargraduationratesamongtheSchool’sdiversepopulations

Implementation

1. CoordinateactivitieswiththeAdmissionsOffice,TheDivisionofDiversity,EquityandInclusion,andCCI’sCoordinatorfortheOfficeofAcademicDiversityOutreachtoidentifyandrecruithighschoolstudentsfromdiversebackgrounds.

2. Establishpartnershipswithregionalhighschooladministratorsandguidancecounselorstocoordinatediversity-basedrecruitmentactivities.

3. UseKentStateadmissionsdatatoidentifyhighperformingstudentsfromdiversebackgroundsforspecificrecruitingoutreach.

4. IncreasecontactstoprospectivefreshmenwithanemphasisonadiversepopulationwithinanappropriateACT/GPAmargin.

5. UtilizetheservicesoftheCenterforScholasticJournalismasanoutreachtohighschooljournalismteachersandmediaadvisorstodeveloprelationshipswithdiversestudents,andparticularlydiversehighschooljournalists.

6. CoordinateactivitieswiththeCCI’sCoordinatorfortheOfficeofAcademicDiversityOutreachandtheJMCadvisorstomonitorthepersistenceandretentionofstudentsfromdiversebackgrounds.

7. EncourageunderrepresentedandunderservedstudentstoparticipateintheCCICommonsliving/learningcommunitythatprovidesspecialprogrammingandservicestosupportpersistencethroughgraduation.

8. EncouragestudentparticipationintheStudentVoiceTeamanditseventsandcontinuetoprovideresourcesthatallowSVTtocarryoutitsmission.

9. Activelypromotevariousstudentmediaoutletsandmedia-relatedstudentorganizationstostudentsfromdiversebackgrounds.

10. Provideannualtrainingsessionsforstudentmediaandorganizationleadersonhowtomanageadiverseworkforce.

Metrics:

1. Createaformalizedplantomonitorandmeasurerecruitmentandretentioneffortsofstudentsfromdiversebackgrounds.

2. Evaluatefourandsix-yeargraduationratesforUnderrepresentedandunderservedstudents.

3. GatherfeedbackfromacademicadvisorsandCCI’sCoordinatorfortheOfficeofAcademicDiversityOutreachonroadblocksorimpedimentstoprogressfordiversestudents.

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4. Assessthequalityoftheexperienceofstudentsfromdiversebackgroundparticipatinginstudentmediaandstudentorganizations(throughparticipationdata,leadershiproles,opportunities,etc.).

5. Measureparticipationindiversity-specializedprogrammingtargetingJMCstudents.

3)EducationandScholarship:

Thegoalistobroadenthecurriculumtoemphasizecross-culturalknowledgebyprovidingdiversity-teachingresourcesandbyassistingfacultywithglobaloutreacheducationandbyprovidingteachingandlearningstrategiesfocusedonmulticulturalcompetencies.

ACEJMCDiversityGoal:Theunit’scurriculumfostersunderstandingofissuesandperspectivesthatareinclusiveintermsofdomesticconcernsaboutgender,race,ethnicityandsexualorientation.Theunit’scurriculumincludesinstructioninissuesandperspectivesrelatingtomasscommunicationsacrossdiverseculturesinaglobalsociety.

KentStateUniversityInitiatives:

Initiative1.2:Adoptastudentengagementstrategythatenhanceslearningthroughincreasedparticipationinhigh-impactexperiencesInitiative1.3:AligntheundergraduateeducationalexperiencetofocusonpurposefulandessentiallearningoutcomesInitiative3.1:IncreaseenrollmentofinternationalstudentsandenhancetheirengagementincampuslifeInitiative3.2:Enhancetheinternationalizationoftheuniversitythroughprogrammaticandpartnershipengagement

ThisdimensionpertainstothemissionofJMCtoprepareallofitsstudentstothriveinapluralisticsocietyandinanincreasinglylinkedglobalcommunity.ExpectedOutcomes

1. Acurriculumthatfostersdomesticandglobalculturalcompetencies2. Multicultural/globalcompetenceinteachingandlearning

Implementation

1. Expanddiversitylearningopportunitiesthroughassignmentsinsyllabithatbroadencross-culturalknowledge.

2. ProvideteachingresourcesfromtheKentStateCenterforTeachingandLearning,theDivisionofDiversity,EquityandInclusionandotheracademicandprofessionalgroups.

3. Assistfacultyviaeducationandcoachingregardingbestpracticesandrelevantpedagogyforstudentswithdifferingabilities.

4. UtilizetheJMCintranetsiteasacentraldepositoryfordiversityresources.

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Metrics

1. Createaformalizedcommunicationprocessforfacultyandstudentgroupstosubmitacademicglobalanddiverselearningexperiencesforthebenefitofdocumentingtheireffectsandinspiringothers.

2. DevelopquestionsandtoolstoincludeinourongoingJMCassessmentstoevaluatetheimpactofthesedomesticandglobalcurriculumchanges.

4)InstitutionalAccountability:

Thegoalistoincreasetherecruitmentandsuccessofadiversefacultyandstaff.

ACEJMCDiversityGoal:Theunitdemonstrateseffectiveeffortstorecruitwomenanddomesticminorityfacultyandprofessionalstaffand,wherefeasible,recruitsinternationalfacultyandprofessionalstaff.

KentStateUniversityInitiatives:

Initiative2.3:Implementa“GreatPlaceInitiative”thatprioritizesattentiontothediversehumanelementoftheuniversityInitiative5.1:Createahealthycampusinitiativethatprioritizesthehealthandwellnessofstudents,facultyandstaffInitiative5.3:Establishacultureofsustainabilityandcontinuousimprovement

Thisdimensionunitesthefirstthreedimensionssimultaneouslytohelpbuildandsustainasuccessful,diverseandinclusiveSchoolofJournalismandMassCommunication.

ExpectedOutcomes

1. Additionofnewhireswithcontentexpertiseinareasofstudythatexaminediverseidentitiesandcultures

2. Advancementofwomenandunderrepresentedandunderservedgroups 3. Successfulleadershipandcareerpathprogramsforfacultyandstaff4. Increaseinphilanthropiccampaigneffortsfocusedondiversity

Implementation

1. UtilizethesupportfromJMC’sDiversityandGlobalizationCommitteeforallfacultyandstaffsearchestoassistinoutreachandrecruitmentstrategiestoincreasediversehires.

2. Postfacultyandstaffopeningsintargetedandidentifiablysuccessfulpublicationsandelectronicdistributionliststoreachabroaderpoolofdiversecandidates.

3. WorkwiththeDivisionofDiversity,EquityandInclusiontoincludesearchcommitteetrainingforsearchcommitteemembers.

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4. TheSchool’sdirectorwillnotifytheJMCDiversityandGlobalizationCommitteeandtheFACwhenconversationswithexitingfacultyandstaffcouldhelpimprovetheenvironmentandoutcomesofthisdimension.

5. Conductperiodicsurveysoffacultyandstafftomeasuretheclimatefordiversitywithintheschool.

Metrics

1. Usedatanumberandproportionofvariousunderrepresentedandunderserved?groupsincomparisontototalpopulationinJMC.

2. Monitorannualpercentageofmovement,upordown,gainorloss,intheuniversity’sdiversityscorecardandactiongoalsasitrelatestounderrepresentednewhiresandretentionofunderrepresentedhiresinJMC.

3. ConductanannualreviewofthefacultybodyandhiringplanbasedontheneedsofTheSchoolwithconsiderationtofurtherdiversifyingthefaculty.

4. IncludefacultybodymakeupinTheSchool’sannualDiversityPlanProgressReport.

Thisplanwasdraftedin2013bytheSchool’sDiversityandGlobalizationCommitteewithinputandreviewfromtheUniversity’sDivisionofDiversity,EquityandInclusion.

ItwasupdatedandapprovedbytheFACinthefall2016.