Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 8/6/112
Iowa State University

Steering Committee on Diversity
Records, 1991-1996


Descriptive summary

creator:

Iowa State University, Steering Committee on Diversity
title:

Records
dates:

1991-1996
extent:

1.47 linear feet (3 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
collection number:

RS 8/6/112
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Iowa State University Steering Committee on Diversity Records, RS 8/6/112, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

The Steering Committee on Diversity was created to identify ways Iowa State University could provide a more hospitable climate for its diverse faculty, staff, and student populations. Milton D. Glick, Acting President of Iowa State University, formed the committee in January 1991. He appointed Nancy Eaton, Dean of Library Services, as chair of the committee. When President Martin Jischke arrived on campus in June of that same year, he asked the committee to prepare a plan to help the university organize its objectives and activities related to issues of diversity.

The Steering Committee met with 29 campus organizations and committees to discuss the development of a campus diversity plan. Public forums were held in April 1992 following the release of the initial proposal for the campus diversity plan. The final report was issued in March 1993. One of the primary goals of the report was to improve recruitment and retention of minority faculty, staff, and students. The creation of the George Washington Carver Professorship was also a direct result of this work.

During November 1993, the Steering Committee surveyed hundreds of Iowa State faculty, staff, and students. Throughout 1993 and 1994, they also conducted group interviews with university employees based on age, ethnicity, gender, physical disability, religion, and sexual orientation to gather information on the campus work environment. The final results of the campus climate assessment were reported in "A Qualitative Study of the Campus Work Climate for Faculty and Staff at Iowa State University: Summary Report" (Archives call no. LD2535.9 I568x 1996).

Later campus climate surveys were conducted in 1995 and 1996. These would lead to a panel discussion on campus climate and diversity issues in January 1997 on which President Jischke would participate. The ideas set forth in the campus diversity plan would eventually be taken up several years later by the President's Advisory Committee on Diversity, whose members would be appointed by President Gregory Geoffroy.

 

Collection description

The collection (1991-1996) contains news clippings, focus group studies, questionnaires, and reports. Over half of the collection is material related to the campus climate focus group studies. These materials include transcripts of group interviews, reports on emerging themes from the interviews, and brief summaries of each group discussion. The transcripts retain their confidential nature by not including names of participants except for that of the moderator.

For related information see the President's Advisory Committee on Diversity Records, RS 8/6/180.

 

Organization

The collection is organized alphabetically with news clippings at the front.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

News Clippings

1991-1995

1

2

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: African American Faculty and Staff

1994 circa

1

3

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Asian Faculty and Staff

1994

1

4

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Christian Evangelical Faculty and Staff

1994

1

5

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Faculty, Merit, and P&S Groups Over the Age of 55

1994

1

6

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Food Service Staff

1994

1

7

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Faculty and Staff

1993

1

8

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Hispanic Faculty and Staff

1993-1994

1

9

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: International Faculty, Merit, and P&S

1993

2

1

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Jewish Faculty and Staff

1993

2

2

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Junior Level Female Faculty and P&S

1994

2

3

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Merit Physical Plant Staff

1994

2

4

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Merit Staff

1993

2

5

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Native American Faculty and Staff

1994

2

6

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Persons with Disabilities

1994

2

7

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Senior Level Academic Men and Women

1994

2

8

Campus Climate Focus Group Study: Senior Level Non-Academic Men and Women

1994

3

13

Campus Climate Focus Group Study Background Information

1993-1996

2

9

Campus Climate Focus Group Study Files on Compact Disk (printed documents available in collection)

1993-1994

2

10

Campus Climate Focus Group Study Moderator Training Materials, Updates, and Background Information

1994

3

14

Campus climate Focus Group Study Statistical Laboratory Survey Section

1993-1996

4

1

Correspondence

1992-1996

2

11

George Washington Carver Professorship (1- 5x7" b/w photograph)

1994

4

2

Meeting Minutes and Agendas

1993-1996

2

12

Presentation: "Study of the Campus Climate for Diversity: The Impact of Campus Climate on Faculty Women"

1993

3

15

Proposals, Reports, Statements

1992-1996

2

13

Questionnaires for Campus Climate Survey

1993

3

1

Questionnaires for Campus Climate Survey

1995

3

2

Questionnaires for Campus Climate Survey

1996

3

3

Report: "Diversity Report to ISUE [Extension] Administration"

1995

3

4

Report: "Introductory Multicultural Organizational Development Program"

1991

3

5

Report: "Plan for Creating a Multicultural and Diverse Environment at Iowa State University," includes draft and response from President Jischke

1992-1993

3

6

Report: "Qualitative Study of Campus Work Climate for Faculty, P&S, and Merit Personnel at Iowa State University: Exploring the Experiences of a Diversity of Populations" (introduction and table of contents only)

1994

3

7

Report: "Study of the Campus Climate at Iowa State University: Report of Faculty Survey Conducted in November, 1993"

1995

3

8

Report: "Study of the Campus Climate at Iowa State University: Report of Staff Survey Conducted in November, 1993"

1995

3

9

Report: "Study of the Campus Climate at Iowa State University: Report of Student Survey Conducted in November, 1993"

1995

3

10

Report: "Study of the Campus Climate for Diversity: The Impact of Campus Climate on Engineering Women Students," and Related Materials

1995-1996

4

3

Search Procedures Subcommittee: Reports, Correspondence, and Faculty Listings

1994-1996

3

11

Steering Committee: Members and Correspondence

1991-1992

4

4

Student Diversity Orientation Program: "Diversity Education to Enhance Retention at Iowa State University"

1995

3

12

Transcripts from a "Forum on a Plan for Creating a Multicultural and Diverse Environment at Iowa State University..."

1992