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Overview of Diversity Efforts at the University of La Verne

Conversation with the Director of Office of Multicultural Services:

1) Who initiates diversity efforts at ULV?

My hope is that everyone, but this idea of everyone leaves a void of responsibility and accountability.

The Office of Multicultural Services was created to be a "central hub" for support of student and community programming efforts and initiatives relative to diversity. Not by any means intending to be the sole prime mover of such efforts, but to be an identifiable location and office accountable to support diversity efforts. There are many partners involved on campus assisting and providing a range of complementary programs and initiatives focusing on diversity at the University of La Verne.

Collaborative Partners Coalition for Diversity, President's Steering Committee on Multicultural Initiatives, Mosaic Cultural Institute, Growing with Diversity Committee, student clubs and organizations, academic units, various department diversity chairs/liaisons including Campus Activities Board (CAB), Residential Housing Association (RHA), and Black and Latino Alumni Associations. Partial list.

Each of these partner organizations and committees has their own special focus and emphasis which complement the overall efforts of working toward becoming a culturally inclusive life-long learning community.

2) Opportunities for Involvement--cultural clubs and organizations, etc.

If you are specifically looking to fully educate your self on the spectrum of diversity here at the university, then I encourage you to consider involvement with one or more of the cultural clubs on campus. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join the clubs and organizations you desire. I know first hand that it's very encouraging to have students from various backgrounds join the numerous clubs and organizations that make-up the university community.

One of the things we uphold here is stated clearly in our ULV mission statement---and that's the valuing of diversity and being a life long inclusive learning community. Much of what you learn and will hold as memories comes from your involvements in clubs and organizations.

The cultural clubs and organizations available at ULV include:

3) Rationale for inclusion and valuing of diversity; the importance for university students engaging in a multicultural learning environment.

The University of La Verne has integrated the concept of valuing diversity with its university mission statement. "The University promotes the goal of community within a context of diversity. The University, therefore, encourages students to understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures which exists locally, nationally, and internationally."

The university also has an extended but connected nuance of diversity: "It also seeks to promote appreciation of biodiversity by helping students understand the impact/dependence of human beings on their environment."

What does this mean? It basically means that we are on a journey attempting to learn what it means to be an inclusive learning community, in a time and place that is also impacted by our presence and calls for the caring of each other and the environment.

We don't have it down perfect. We don't have all the range of services that you can conceivably imagine. We don't have all the staffing that would maximize our potential to engage and learn about the vast array of diversity existent in our local and global community.

What we do have is the desire and the passion to struggle on this path of joint collaborative learning. We have articulated this as a value. We are planning to further build on this vision to be an inclusive life-long learning community and environment. This vision cannot come to fruition without your presence and active participation because it is more than an idea it is life as it is lived and experienced with each other. It is dynamic and full of vitality.

Diversity of ideas and life experiences will enrich your academic and social learning and competencies. You don't have to just take my word for it---find out for yourselves. You are encouraged to interact with individuals who represent life experiences that are distinct from those you are most familiar with; that are unfamiliar to you.

Daniel Goleman in his book: Working with Emotional Intelligence talks about some watchwords from the Harvard Business School that are prevalent today: "Success through others who are different from yourself." This is not to dismiss your innate ability to reach success, but speaks of the multiple forms by which you can be enriched in your understanding and experience of other persons. In turn, leading to the making of a savvy and competent leader.

Here we are talking about leveraging diversity as an asset. "Beyond zero tolerance for intolerance, the ability to leverage diversity revolves around three skills:

(Goleman, 2001)


This last skill of "seizing whatever business opportunity these unique approaches might offer" has the dual benefit of providing you with learning opportunities and experiences to become culturally proficient as well as business opportunities to meet the needs of a changing demographic population. Not only are you afforded the opportunity to become an intelligent business person, but you benefit the larger community by becoming a culturally proficient person that can walk in and out of diverse communities as an ambassador working for peace in a society and world that desperately needs it.

For a full college educational experience, I encourage you to step out into the uncomfortable, the unknown, and the unfamiliar. Give yourself permission to not have all the answers but at the same time to seek them.

In the very near future, a new Campus Center will be built on the corner of 2nd and C Streets where the Office of Multicultural Services will be housed. We are in the early stages of its evolution where a cross section of stakeholders will be brought together to provide input as to the structure of the Office of Multicultural Services as it transitions into the new Campus Center and is expanded. It's a very exciting time!