The Saginaw Valley State University 1994-95 Affirmative Action Monitoring Report is in response to actions taken by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education with regard to the status of minorities on campus. It presents responses to three areas which the University has been requested to provide additional information.
1) "While greater efforts toward the recruitment of minority students needs to be encouraged, additional attention should be given to retention of this population."
2) "The University must develop innovative strategies to recruit and retain faculty from underrepresented groups."
3) "The University must carefully review its strategy to integrate multiculturalism into the campus environment and should seek additional opportunities to enhance its efforts to institutionalize values of diversity and multiculturalism."During the 1994-95 academic year, the Office of Multicultural Programs/Affirmative Action underwent a significant change. To the shock of the campus community, its director, Dr. Roosevelt Ruffin, died of cancer on October 4, 1994. For the next four months, the office was without leadership, although routine matters were handled by the Office of the President. In February of 1995, a new director was appointed and has been in the position for four months.
In spite of increased recruitment efforts, minorities still make up a small percentage of SVSU’s enrollment. The current student body includes 369 African-Americans, 253 Hispanics and 48 Native Americans. As a percentage of total enrollment, the student body is 5.3% African-American, 3.6% Hispanic and 0.7% Native American.
Minorities are also underrepresented in SVSU’s current work force. According to the Personnel Office, 13.8% of the full-time work force is minority (66 of 478). The proportion falls to just 8% when one includes only African-Americans and Hispanics. Of the 24 African-American employees, 13 are faculty or professional staff and 11 are clerical or service/maintenance employees. The 23 Hispanic employees are distributed almost identically, with 12 in faculty or professional positions and the remaining 11 in clerical or service/maintenance jobs.
In the 1995-96 academic year, the newly hired Director of Multicultural Programs/Affirmative Action will devote 25% of his time developing strategies for expanding the pool of minority candidates for available faculty and staff positions. He will also assist the Admissions Office and the Office of Minority Services in their efforts to recruit additional minority students.
The following programs related to recruitment arid retention efforts and activities are planned by the Office of Multicultural Programs/Affirmative Action and the Office of Minority Services.
I. Recruitment and Retention
In further support of this goal and objective, the Office of Minority Services (*) will:
The Director reports to the President and provides guidance and supervision in recruitment and appointment of any faculty or staff in line with affirmative action guidelines. In addition, this office provides guidance and supervision for the offering of multicultural programs for faculty and students on campus and in the community.
The office also conducts additional programs for minority students. These currently include:
Martin Luther King/Caesar Chavez/Rosa Parks Visiting Professors Program (KCP)
The KCP Program has three purposes: 1) to increase the number of minority instructors available to teach at four-year institutions in Michigan; 2) to increase the number of minority instructors available to serve as mentors to students at SVSU; and 3) to provide minority educators with opportunities to interact and exchange knowledge in their discipline with professors and students at SVSU.
Community Matching Grant
The Office of Multicultural Programs/Affirmative Action administers a program whereby the University provides a one-to-one match for scholarships/grants minority students receive from community organizations. The purpose of this program is to encourage minorities to attend and remain at the University. Recipients meet with the Director of Multicultural Programs/Affirmative Action throughout the school year to monitor the students' academic progress and to counsel them on any other matters involving attending SVSU.
Martin Luther King/Caesar Chavez/Rosa Parks (KCP) Fellowship Program
In 1986, the State of Michigan initiated the King/Chavez/Parks Future Faculty Program. The Program has two goals: 1) to increase the number of minority doctoral students in Michigan colleges and universities; and 2) to increase the number of minority faculty and staff in underrepresented academic disciplines who can serve as role models. Each fellowship provides up to $25,000 (over four years) for a doctorate degree and up to $15,000 (over two years) for a master's degree to minority students who study at public universities in Michigan. Since 1986, SVSU has awarded 27 KCP Fellowships.
This office provides both academic services and multicultural programs for minority students and the campus community. A mentoring program matches students with a personal mentor. Multicultural programs are presented throughout the year which include Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Month, and community outreach programs and workshops.
Minority Services offers additional programs for minority students. These currently include:
Select Student Support Services Program (4-S Program)
The 4-S Program is designed to be a retention program leading to the graduation of minority students. Emphasis is placed on counseling, mentoring, tutoring, developing study skills and faculty advising. The program is voluntary, but students may be referred to the program by faculty.
Michigan College and University Partnership Grant (MICUP)
MICUP is an educational partnership that exists between SVSU and Delta College. The program is part of the King/Chavez/Parks initiative implemented through the Office of Minority Equity, Michigan Department of Education. The program encourages minority students to transfer from Delta College to SVSU upon completion of the Associate's Degree. MICUP services include career and personal advising, study sessions, mentoring, study skills training and assistance with class scheduling and registration. Approximately 25 students transfer from Delta College to SVSU each year through this program.
Wade-McCree Program
This program is designed to encourage academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities among promising minority high school students. SVSU awards scholarships covering tuition, room and board, books and fees through this program.
