Diversity group proposes increasing financial aid for minority scholarships

By Robin Hawbaker

Collegian Reporter

Some University of Richmond faculty say they want to offer scholarships for students who promote diversity and inclusiveness and also offer more financial aid to encourage minorities to apply to the university.

The proposals were part of a discussion Monday night in Gottwald Auditorium led by Tina Cade, director of multicultural affairs, and John Douglass, dean of the T.C. Williams School of Law, about the strategic plan initiative to promote diversity on campus. Ten other students joined the discussion.

Members from the strategic plan working group, as it's known, also said they would like to provide incentives for faculty who participate in non-credit programs focused on diversity and cultural learning -- an effort to recruit and retain faculty from diverse demographics.

But the discussion wasn't limited to racial diversity. Faculty also said they wanted to provide flexibility in the "tenure clock" for faculty to care for families and expand tenure requirements to include values in diversity and inclusiveness.

Other initiatives the working group proposed included establishing a multi-cultural center, opportunity funds to promote inclusivity, and accessibility coordinators for people with disabilities and cultural advisers who would live in residential dorms.

The final draft of the Strategic Plan is slated for completion Oct. 10, but the group will hold another open forum to discuss the draft once more before then.

The next meeting will discuss the distinctive student experience Wednesday, Sept. 24, 6p.m., in Gottwald Auditorium. The draft can be viewed through the strategic plan Web site, strategicplan.richmond.edu.

Contact reporter Robin Hawbaker at robin.hawbaker@richmond.edu