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 / Fall 2009

Leadership in Diversity Strategic Planning

Dr. W. Terrell Jones, Vice Provost for Educational Equity Penn State continues to be among When the original five-year plan national leaders in fostering was established in 1998, seven Lately, I have been reflecting diversity through strategic Challenges were outlined as the on our role and impact as the planning. Released in July 2009, infrastructure of this initiative. Office of Educational Equity at A Framework to Foster Diversity at These Challenges continue to guide Penn State. As I write, Penn Penn State: 2010–15 is the each five-year plan. Targeted areas State has yet to receive its University’s third five-year for improvement provide focus for budget appropriation from the Commonwealth diversity plan, rounding out a initiatives. Within each planning for the 2009–10 academic year. In this difficult fifteen-year trajectory. cycle, the University economic climate, our students and their families conducts midpoint and are struggling to afford the cost of college. We W. Terrell Jones, vice final progress reviews have seen an increasing number of students provost for through a self-assess- withdraw from the University under a heavy Educational Equity, ment of all campuses, debt load, and Penn State is struggling to absorb said promoting equity the delay and decrease in funding while colleges, and adminis- maintaining a quality educational environment. and inclusivity in trative units to ensure higher education is the promotion of equity For several years, noted economists have stressed not only the right among faculty, staff, the key role of higher education for all in thing to do, but the and students. Each maintaining America’s economic vitality and strategic thing to do. assessment reveals best leadership within the new global economy. Arne “A more diverse practices and continu- Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, and group is beneficial to higher ing challenges. Final updates under President Barack Obama have added emphasis to education; it gives rise to creativi- the 2004–09 plan, along with new the need to educate all students, particularly those ty and a competitive edge,” said unit plans for 2010–15, will be from groups that have historically faced barriers to Jones. “Because the demographics submitted to the vice provost in higher education. of the nation and workforce are December for spring 2010 review. changing, we need to successfully The comprehensive nature of the These are the students whom we serve, students educate all students in order to who are from multicultural backgrounds, low- assessment process, along with income families, or the first in their family to maintain our institutional vitality the open availability of the results, attend college; students with disabilities; and and economic viability and to contribute to Penn State’s leader- women who are dramatically underrepresented in continue to contribute to our ship in this area. the STEM fields. Within this context, it is clear that society and economy, locally our students are the very students upon whose and globally.” continued on page 4 success rests the educational promise of America. And these are the students who benefit the most from the added support systems we provide Grace Hampton Appointed through our various Educational Equity offices Senior Faculty Mentor and initiatives. Grace Hampton, professor of art education and I am proud of the dedication of our staff in integrative arts and affiliate faculty member of maintaining the quality academic support which the African and African American Studies is so helpful to our students’ success. I am also Department, has been appointed to serve as pleased that the University has emphasized senior faculty mentor. Hampton replaces James student success in its new strategic plan Priorities Stewart, who retired in June 2009. for Excellence, renewed its commitment to A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State, and The senior faculty mentor addresses a wide reinforced synergies between the plans. We must range of issues that impact the recruitment and each do our part to make these goals a reality. Dr. Grace Hampton continued on page 4 Office of Veterans Programs Serves Student Veterans

Penn State's Office of Veterans Programs provides outreach, certifica- tion, and to veterans and their family members eligible under the G.I. Bill. All veterans are contacted by as they leave military service and offered assistance for accessing their benefits to further their education.

The Office of Veterans Programs serves University Park and World Those listed in the photo include, Left to Right: Ed Thompson, director of development, Educational Equity; Irene Campus students, and is a resource Gallagher, David’s mother; Christine Shindler, David’s sister; and Frank Gallagher, David’s brother to counselors working with student veterans at all Penn State campuses. Gallagher-Newcombe Trustee Scholarship “Penn State recognizes the tremen- dous contributions being made by A new Trustee Scholarship has been benefit Penn State students with our servicemen and women and established with the presentation of a disabilities. The David Gallagher wants to ensure they have access to a check for $25,000 from the David Foundation memorializes David Penn State education, regardless of Gallagher Foundation. Collaboration Gallagher, a Penn State graduate who their state of origin,” said Brian Clark, between the Gallagher Foundation had epilepsy. Following his death in director of Penn State's Office of and the Newcombe Foundation has an auto accident, the family estab- Veterans Programs. created the Gallagher-Newcombe lished the foundation in his honor. Trustee Scholarship, which will Most Penn State campuses participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, part of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Qualified veterans who have served on active Educational Equity Scholarships: duty since September 11, 2001, can Be a Part of Penn State’s Future have their tuition costs covered for most Penn State degrees as part of the Did you know that, by making an outright or planned gift of program. Additionally, Penn State's World Campus and Pennsylvania cash, securities, or real estate, you can create a named fund or College of Technology have been even receive a lifetime income through a charitable remainder recognized as military-friendly trust or gift annuity? Such a gift would benefit you now (and institutions for the educational can be for a spouse or partner) and Penn State Educational opportunities they offer to veterans. Equity Programs in the future. For more details, visit: Or, you may want to consider including Penn State http://live.psu.edu/story/40769 and Educational Equity Programs in your will. We can provide http://live.psu.edu/story/42875 suggested language to ensure your wishes are carried out. Another option is a “bequest” of retirement plan assets, which passes to Penn State free of income and estate tax so the entire value of the account is applied for purposes you designate. To learn more about these opportunities, please contact:

Edward Thompson Brian Casey Director of Development Gift Planning Officer Educational Equity Office of Gift Planning 814-865-7698 888-800-9170 [email protected] [email protected] www.equity.psu.edu www.giftplanning.psu.edu

Page 2 Focus on Student Success

The Quality Advocates Network, processes, and practices in relation to support, and emphasized the impor- sponsored by the Office of Planning facilitating student success and focus- tance of making information and and Institutional Assessment (OPIA), ing on a learning-centered approach. resources readily available. sponsored a series of panels focusing Summaries of each of the sessions in on student success. On April 6, 2009, The series concluded on December 4 the Quality Advocates series are “Enhancing Student Success” with “Who is Responsible for Student available at www.psu.edu/presi- addressed Penn State’s current and Success?” Moderator Robert Pangborn, dent/pia/advocates/index.htm. The future efforts to enhance student vice president and dean for Quality Advocates Network is an success, including efforts identified Undergraduate Education, led the informal group that meets several through the work of the University discussion of how responsibility for times each semester to share ideas Strategic Planning Council and Task student success is shared by students and examples of improvement and Force on Ensuring Student Success. and the University. Panelists identified innovation. The Quality Advocates Panelists included Yvonne Gaudelius, barriers to student success, noted the Network is open to all Penn State assistant vice president and associate necessity of increased communication faculty, staff, administrators, and dean for Undergraduate Education, and collaboration to enhance student students. who led the task force; W. Terrell Jones, vice provost for Educational Equity; Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs; and moderator Louise Sandmeyer, executive director of OPIA.

Following on the success of the spring session, the fall 2009 series has explored multiple aspects of defining and fostering student success with additional panels composed of admin- istrators, faculty, staff, and students. The fall series kicked off on October 9 with “What is Student Success?” W. Terrell Jones, vice provost for Educational Equity, moderated the session, which focused on how student success can be defined, how policies From left to right: Robert C. Hicks ’50 H&HD, John R. Finley ’49 H&HD, William “Rip” Sherer ’49 H&HD, Wallace “Wally” and processes of the University can Triplett III ’49 H&HD, I. Thomas Smith ’49 H&HD, Robert J. Williams ’49 H&HD, Robert R. Ross ’50 Eng., V. Lee Henry, support or hamper student success, Jr. ’50 Eng., Elwood L. Petchel ’49 H&HD, Joseph J. Sarabok ’50 H&HD, and family members Todd Hedderick, son of Raymond Hedderick, ’50 H&HD, and Matthew J. Suhey ’80 Bus., son of Stephen J. Suhey ’50 H&HD (deceased), and student engagement in the classroom, grandson of Robert A. Higgins ’18 Lib, (deceased). and how Penn State represents itself in advertising. Beaver Stadium On November 13, Damon Sims, vice Homecoming Game, October 17, 2009 president for Student Affairs, moderat- ed “Student Success: Connecting Policy Penn State 20 – Minnesota 0 and Practice to Student Success.” Panelists discussed Penn State policies, Nittany Lion teammates and families from the 1948 Cotton Bowl Team (9-0-1) were honored during halftime.

Penn State has featured in several asked to leave its African American venues the 1946 and 1947 Nittany players home by its season Lion football teams and their contri- opponent, University of Miami. For bution to not only Penn State’s foot- more information, including a link to ball fame, but also racial justice and the Penn Stater magazine article, civil rights. In fact, the iconic chant blog, and a story and interview with “We Are … Penn State” is attributed Wally Triplett, visit to the team’s decision to play “all or http://live.psu.edu/story/42785. none” when the 1946 team was Page 3 News of Note: • Eduardo Juarez was named the Leadership in Diversity Strategic Planning new director of the Educational continued from front page Opportunity Center in The Office of the Vice Provost for from each Framework cycle. Results Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Educational Equity Web site main- of the 2010 assessment will be effective August 3, 2009. tains a comprehensive repository available in fall 2010. The Framework • JoVon Hill has been promoted to of unit diversity strategic plans, is available at counselor in our EOC office in updates, and feedback reports www.equity.psu.edu/Framework. Philadelphia. JoVon was formerly the staff assistant for the program. • Jennifer Hadley has been Grace Hampton Appointed Senior progress toward tenure and promo- promoted to full-time counselor in Faculty Mentor tion, including review of dossiers; Upward Bound. In that role, she continued from front page vitae maintenance and development; will continue to provide outstand- and supplemental travel support to ing support to high school retention of minority faculty, working attend conferences. students in each of the seven directly with W. Terrell Jones, vice school districts served by UB. provost for Educational Equity, and Hampton has held a variety of • Desmond Harrison and Ingrid Suzanne Adair, senior director of the positions at the University, including Lundquist have joined the Talent Office of Graduate Educational Equity head of the African and African Search team, working at the Farrell Programs. Hampton will provide a American Studies Department, and New Castle offices, variety of supportive services to executive assistant to the provost for respectively. tenure-track faculty members belong- development of the arts, chair of the • Beth Tamminga, staff assistant, ing to underrepresented racial/ethnic Commission for the Advancement of and Michael Chestnut, language groups to facilitate attainment of the Arts, professor of art and art and literacy coordinator, are new tenure and promotion. In addition to education, vice provost, and director hires to our CAMP office. being a mentor, Hampton will give of the School of Visual Arts in the individual consultations regarding College of Arts and Architecture. • Jacqueline Gardner and Annyce Schafft have joined the diversity planning analysts for the Framework review process James B. Stewart, First through April 2010. Bao-Ming Li Vice Provost for of the Multicultural Resource Center will also serve in this Educational Equity, capacity for the review. Retires

In May 2009, the Office of Educational EOC-SWPA Staff Member Equity hosted a retirement reception Honored with First Staff for Dr. James (Jim) B. Stewart. In 1990, Jim was named the first vice provost Service Award for Educational Equity, and most Patty Forrest, staff assistant for the recently served as our senior faculty Educational Opportunity Centers of mentor. Congratulations Jim! Dr. James B. Stewart Southwestern Pennsylvania, was honored with a Staff Service Award on Friday, April 24, 2009, at Penn State's Beaver campus. Penn State’s College Assistance Migrant Program Participates in First CAMP National Blood Drive The award recognizes the consistently outstanding performance of a nonex- Penn State was among the CAMP tied for seventh place, and was the empt staff member who has demon- programs participating in the CAMP only Eastern Stream program to make strated and practiced a commitment to the philosophy of continuous quality Alumni Association’s inaugural the top ten. This event is among the improvement, team spirit, excellence National Cesar Chavez Blood Drive largest Hispanic-focused blood donor in the performance of assigned duties, Challenge in spring 2009. drive in the U.S. Penn State’s CAMP, and dedicated focus to customer service. a federally funded TRIO program, This is the first year the award has Among the forty-two participating has recently received grant approval been presented. programs nationwide, the program for the next five years.

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 This publication is available in alternative media upon request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. U.Ed. OVP 10-30 (e)