Overview Newsletter Spring 2011
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Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity 314 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802 / Phone: 814-865-5906 Fax: 814-865-3997 / www.equity.psu.edu / Spring 2011 Benchmarking Best Diversity Practices Dr. W. Terrell Jones, The spring 2011 Best Practices in support units in identifying and Vice Provost for Educational Equity Diversity Strategic Planning sharing effective initiatives and best workshop was held in collabora- practices that address the seven tion with the Office of Planning Challenges of A Framework to Foster The Governor’s proposed and Institutional Assessment’s Diversity at Penn State, Penn State’s budget will have a tremen- Quality Advocates series on strategic plan for diversity. Penn dous impact on Penn State Tuesday, March 29, 2011. The State is a leader in diversity if it’s approved. Penn State session helped the Penn State strategic planning, and we are and our sister institutions throughout the community learn about the 2010 frequently benchmarked for our state are working to reduce the magnitude review process, become familiar robust review process and of the cuts to higher education; however, with approaches for best practices, emphasis on accountability. they will still be considerable. Penn State and hear from units that are in More information about the will have only a matter of weeks to balance the forefront with exciting initia- workshop is available at its own budget accordingly for the fiscal tives and strong approaches to www.equity.psu.edu/workshop/sp year that starts July 1. achieving their diversity goals. 11/index.html and www.psu.edu/president/cqi/ Like every unit at the University, Panelists included Renata Engel, advocates/2011/03/ Educational Equity is being asked to do our associate dean for Academic share. I am aware that two of our pro- Programs, College of Engineering; grams—the Women in the Sciences and David Gnage, chancellor, Penn Engineering (WISE) Institute and the State Mont Alto; and Janet Pennsylvania College Advising Corps— Murphy, director, Directorate of Penn State (PACAC)—will be phased out. General Administration and Planning, University Office of Change such as this is always difficult, Global Programs.Victoria Sanchez, especially when it affects us personally. assistant vice provost for Penn State and Educational Equity have Educational Equity, served as always been managed well. I expect us to be moderator. able to weather these trying times and to protect the integrity of our mission. I thank The Best Practices in Diversity you all for your continued dedication and Strategic Planning series assists hard work. colleges, campuses, and academic CORED Sponsors Screening of REEL INJUN The Commission on Racial/Ethnic Native the evolution of cinema’s depiction of Diversity (CORED) screened Reel Americans. The Native people from the silent film era Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood film featured to today, and highlights some of the Indian, a documentary directed by interviews from stereotypes lingering even in twenty- Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond, on Clint Eastwood, first century films. Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in the Robbie Hintz Family Alumni Center on the Robertson, The screening was followed by an University Park campus. With a bit of Sacheen interactive discussion, lead by John humor and a ton of seriousness, Littlefeather, John Sanchez, associate professor in the Diamond looked at how the myth of Trudell, and College of Communications, about “the Injun” has shaped the under- Russell Means. standing and misunderstanding of Reel Injun traces continued on page 2 CORED Task Force New Faces of an Ancient Recognized for Quality People Traditional Improvement American Indian Powwow CORED’s Task Force on Student Penn State and the State College Area Institutional Debt was among the School District hosted the eighth forty-seven innovation and improve- annual traditional American Indian ment teams recognized at the annual Powwow celebration on Saturday, Quality Issues Forum held on April 2 and Sunday, April 3, 2011, Thursday, April 14, 2011. The task at Mount Nittany Middle School. force was created in spring 2009 to More than 130 dancers participated from as far away as New Mexico, Canada, South Dakota, and other American Indian communities across the continent. Close to 6,000 people visited the powwow to sample the American Indian kitchen, shop with Native vendors, and enjoy the traditional dancers and singers. In addition, the powwow sponsored a powwow is a contemporary social book drive, working with a tribal gathering and celebration of school on the Standing Rock Indian community featuring American Indian reservation to add more than 500 drum music and songs, Native evaluate the impact of financial holds new books to their very small American dance, and Native American on the success of first-generation, school library. foods, as well as American Indian low-income students in achieving vendors showing and selling their arts their baccalaureate degree, including The American Indian traditional and crafts. the exploration of change in University processes to help minimize College of Earth and negative impacts. The committee presented their findings and Mineral Sciences Hosts recommendations at the commission’s Open House annual meeting with President Spanier on Friday, April 22, 2011. Every year, Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences hosts the Penn State recognizes the work of Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition improvement teams and other quality (EMEX), an open house for potential initiatives at the annual Quality Issues students. Through this program, Forum, sponsored by executive vice Upward Bound Math and Science president and provost Rodney (UBMS) students have the chance to Erickson and the Office of Planning meet current Penn State students, Pictured above is Jordy Lemus, UBMS senior, assisting Dr. faculty, staff, and alumni; discuss Libby Kupp in showing students the properties of various and Institutional Assessment. materials. Dr. Kupp has been Jordy’s research mentor for majors and careers; and engage in the past two summers and he will join her in her lab this hands-on activities from the major and fall as a Bunton-Waller Fellow in Materials Science and degree areas, including geography, Engineering. The Mildred S. Bunton and Calvin H. Waller Undergraduate Fellows Program seeks to enhance the CORED Sponsors Screening of meteorology, geosciences, materials REEL INJUN diversity of undergraduate representation at Penn State science and engineering, geosciences, and offers full in-state tuition and room and board. continued from front page and earth and mineral engineering. This year’s open house was held on stereotypes regarding American The annual Rube Goldberg Machining Saturday, February 26. Indian cultures too long held as Contest challenges engineering truths through their portrayal in students to build complex machines in Penn State’s UBMS brought twenty- American cinema. The film is order to complete a simple task. UBMS five students to attend EMEX and were available for use by all Penn State students had the rare opportunity to joined by fifteen students from the campuses to extend the viewing ask these burgeoning engineers about University of Pennsylvania’s UBMS opportunities to students, staff, their machines and watch as the program. Some of the activities the alumni, and friends of Penn State machines were set up and put through students enjoyed included glassmak- throughout the Commonwealth. their paces. ing, meteorology, underground mining tours, and watching a weather balloon Our Latino students got a chance to Page 2 launch. continued on page 3 New inductees to the James B. Stewart Society are Blake and Linda Gall (center) with Harold Cheatham, chair, Educational Equity Advisory Board (left), and W. Terrell Jones, vice provost for Educational Equity (right). Brittany Jones reads her thank-you letter to Educational Equity scholarship donors. Educational Equity Advisory Board Scholarship Dinner Prior to its meeting on Friday, April 15, the Educational Equity Advisory Board hosted a scholarship dinner on Thursday, April 14. The dinner honored new inductees into the James B. Stewart Giving Society: Blake and Linda Gall (Trustee Scholarships) and James and Alberta Stith (research conference funds for students in the James Stith (center) is presented with a James B. Stewart Society plaque by Harold Cheatham, chair, Educational Equity Advisory Board (right) and W. Terrell Jones, vice provost for Educational Equity (left). STEM fields). Several current scholar- ship recipients were in attendance and Equity programs in which they par- Society recognizes donors whose had the opportunity to talk with ticipate. Students Brittany Jones, Jose lifetime giving has reached $10,000 or advisory board members and scholar- Javier Lopez Magaña, and Sheileka more on behalf of any allocation ship donors about their experiences at Thomas read open letters of thanks to within Educational Equity. Penn State and with the Educational their scholarship donors. The Stewart Educational Equity Green Team College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Hosts Open House Continued from page 2 Participates in Earth Day meet members of the Society of This year, Penn State convened its Hispanic Professional Engineers who largest Earth Day celebration to date provided advice about transitioning to with the theme “A Billion Acts of college and how to make connections Green Begins with the Power of One.” with professors, get academic Educational Equity’s green team was assistance if they need it, and make invited to participate as one of about connections leading to a career. forty different green initiatives that showcased the work of various Penn EMEX is a wonderful opportunity for State offices and organizations. The our students to see future engineers Educational Equity table featured a and scientists in action with many display focusing on Educational different and exciting science activi- Equity’s mission and recognizing the ties. The students are encouraged to Green Team’s connection to matters of continue to pursue their dream of a social justice and subsequent impact (L to R) Emily Granville, Victoria Sanchez, Green Man, degree in math or science.