March 2013
EQUITY & DIVERSITY AWARENESS
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
The concepts “equal employment opportunity” and “affirmative action” are often confused and/or misunderstood. It is important, especially when engaged in recruitment activities, to understand what the two concepts mean and the differences in their meanings as it relates to the recruitment and selection process. Equal opportunity laws ban discrimination. Affirmative action goes farther by requiring employers to take “affirmative” steps to achieve a balanced representation of workers. We will explore these issues further in the coming months. Please also visit our website for more information.
What began as a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions has now become a month of honoring women’s contributions and culture to society. The celebration originated in the school district of Sonoma California in 1978. The week included a “Real Woman” essay contest and a parade, which was held in downtown Santa Rosa. Soon after, other communities across the country began to celebrate the week. President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. Congress passed a resolution declaring it a national celebration the following year. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned to expand the celebration to an entire month. The National Women’s History Project has a theme each year for the celebration. This year’s theme is “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.” International Women’s Day is on March 8th. Click here to read more.
KNOW YOUR PROTECTED CLASS! Veteran Status
East Carolina University policy prohibits discrimination against any This year the World Affairs Coun- student, applicant or employee based on cil of Eastern North Carolina veteran status. Veterans may include those (WAC-ENC) is again sponsoring that served in the US military, ground, the Great Decisions program with naval or air service. The university will the assistance of East continue to seek and employ qualified Carolina University. The goal of the program is to discuss, debate, and learn about International Affairs, National Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Tickets are $6. For additional information, click here or contact Dr. Sylvie Debevec Henning via email.
GREAT DECISIONS
personnel and to provide equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees in recruiting, hiring, placement, training, compensation and benefits, promotion, transfer, and termination. For more information on Veteran Affairs at ECU, click here.
@ ECU ETHNIC FILM SERIES The Spring Ethnic Film Series continues this month with two films. The series was established in fall 2009 to encourage linguistic and cultural exchange at ECU; present different views on current world events; promote global diversity on campus and in ethnic studies; support the international community at ECU; enjoy seeing films from around the world; and to think about representations of ethnicity in popular films. A Separation will be screened on March 19th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. in Bate 1028 with a guest introduction by Mona Russell. Smoke Signals will be screened on March 25th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. in Bate 1026, with a guest introduction by Anna Froula.
ECNAO POWWOW The East Carolina Native American Organization will hold their 21st Annual Powwow on March 23rd from noon-6 p.m. in Minges Coliseum. The Head Man will be Josh Griffin, the Head Lady is Olivia Richardson, the MC is Sharon Berrun and the host drum is Blue Moon. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Aleshia Hunt by email or by phone at 252-864-7162.
SHERMAN ALEXIE
Courtesy: Parnasuss Books
This year’s Contemporary Writer’s Series will feature Native American writer Sherman Alexie. On March 26th at 8:00 p.m. in Wright Auditorium, Alexie will have a book signing and a discussion on his most recent book. Sherman has received numerous awards for his work, including the National Book Award for “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” For more information, contact Tom Douglass by email.
2013 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS Guerilla Girls March 1, 2013 at 5 pm Jenkins Building, Speight Auditorium Asra Nomani-Women in the Muslim World March 4, 2013 at 7 pm Science and Technology Building (Ro. C207) Voyages of Discovery: Jarvis Lecture on Christianity and Culture March 5, 2013 at 7 pm Wright Auditorium International Women’s Day Faculty Research Panel Discussion March 7, 2013 at 8 am SCI/TEC Building (Ro. 144)
Super Mother Role Model-An International Phenomena? March 7, 2013 at 12 am Rivers Building (Ro. 260) Saving Women and Girls from Human Trafficking in India March 7, 2013 at 7 pm Rivers Building (Ro. 226) Dialoguing Dissertations and Talking Theses - An Event for Female Scholars March 26, 2013 at 6:30 pm East Carolina Heart Institute
FOUNDER’S DAY ECU’s Native American sorority, Sigma Omicron Epsilon will celebrate their Founder’s Day on March 30th. Prior to celebrating Founder’s Day on March 30th, the sorority will host events each day leading up to the 30th such as a women’s self defense course on March 25th in honor of their friend, Faith Hedgepeth. For more information, please contact chapter President and ECU senior Caprice Hunt by email.
IN THE NEWS AAHHE Conference
HOLMES SCHOLARS: THE NEXT GENERATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY
The eighth annual national conference of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) will be held on March 28th-30th, in San Antonio, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk Hotel. This year’s conference theme is “Toward a Latino Attainment Agenda: Shaping our Own Destiny,” or “Hacia una agenda Latina: Forjando Nuestro Destino.”
The Holmes Scholars program has been adopted by several institutions of higher learning throughout the United States, which helps prepare members of underrepresented groups for jobs in the professoriate. Students of those groups expressed sentiments of not being able to envision themselves as doctors or in similar professions. AACTE leaders say the Holmes Scholars program is one of the most vital initiatives helping to change the face of American academe. “We know we need to nurture diversity within the professoriate within higher ed,” said AACTE President and CEO Sharon Robinson. “Our effort contributes to that diversity.” Carolyn W. Hopp, Lecturer and Coordinator of the Holmes Scholars Program at UCF, said the Holmes Scholars bring a critical voice to higher education. To read more of this article, click here.
Source: http://www.aahhe.org/conference.aspx
Source: Abdul-Alim, Jamaal . “Holmes Scholars: The Next Generation of Higher Education Faculty.“ Diverse Issues in Higher Education. February 27, 2013. http://diverseeducation.com/article/51589/
MINORITY APPLICANTS TO COLLEGES WILL RISE SIGNIFICANTLY BY 2020
“The Chronicle of Higher Education” reports that over the next decade, more students of color than ever before will pass through the gates of the nation’s colleges and join the ranks of its work force, according to new projections by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
By the year 2020, minority students will account for 45 percent of the nation’s public high-school graduates, up from 38 percent in 2009. In short, the number of white and black graduates will decline, and the number of Hispanic and Asian-American/Pacific Islander graduates will rise significantly. Those projections appear in the latest edition of Knocking at the College Door, a regular report on demographic change published by the commission, which is known as Wiche.
The projected national picture reveals only so much, however. Trends in one state will not match those in another. In turn, the story line for colleges will vary from campus to campus.
Those shifts will be driven by “extraordinarily rapid growth” in the number of Hispanic students earning diplomas, the report says. From 2008-9 to 201920, public high schools will produce about 197,000 more Hispanic graduates, an increase of 41 percent, according to Wiche’s projections. During that time, the nation will see a near-equivalent drop, of 228,000, in the number of white graduates—a 12-percent decline. In all but two states, Colorado and Utah, the report says, the number of white graduates will be “in full retreat.”
As those changes take hold, meeting the needs of minority students, especially those from underrepresented groups, will play a greater role in defining institutional success, according to Brian T. Prescott, Wiche’s director of policy research and a co-author of the report. “As we continue to see more and more students who need more and more help, we’ve got to make sure we’re serving them,” says Mr. Rawlins, who is also president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. “It’s not just about putting up a billboard.” For more on this story, visit www.chronicle.com Source: Hoover, Eric. “Minority Applicants to Colleges Will Rise Significantly by 2020.” The Chronicle. January 10, 2013. http://chronicle.com/article/Wave-of-DiverseCollege/136603/
DIVERSITY DATA
Source: http://visual.ly/diversity-workplace-2011 Published by: Career Builder Designed by: Stanford Kay
2nd Nineteen Day Fast (Baha’i – Ends Mar. 20th) March 10th Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) S M T W T F S 1 2 13th L. Ron Hubbard Birthday (Scientology) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 20th Equinox (Wicca/Pagan – Ostara and Mabon) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 21st Naw Ruz/New Year (Baha’i) and Nowruz (Persian/Zoroastrian) 17 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24th Palm Sunday 31 26th Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian) and Passover (Jewish – Ends Apr. 1st) 26th Magha Puja Day (Buddhist), Holi (Hindu), and Lord’s Evening Meal (Jehovah’s Witness) 28th Hola Mohalla (Sikh) and Birth of Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroastrian) 29th Good Friday (Christian) 31st Easter (Christian)
INTERFAITH CALENDAR
Have equity and diversity news to share? Please send your news and announcements to oed@ecu.edu.
Did you miss last month’s newsletter? Archived newsletters can be found here. race + color + religion + creed + sex + national origin + age + disability + veteran status + sexual orientation + political affiliation + genetic information
Office for Equity and Diversity G-406 Old Cafeteria Complex, Greenville, NC 27858 252.328.6804 www.ecu.edu/oed Contact Us