Plan 2008

APPENDIX J: FACULTY SENATE ON DIVERSITY

Summary of Faculty Senate Documents Addressing Diversity
(Reprinted from Diversity Update, 1998)

Student Recruitment Policies

The University of Wisconsin-Madison should strive to achieve, in its undergraduate student body, a level of minority group representation that is at least proportional to the population served (Faculty Document 20, December 7, 1970).

In accordance with the mandate of the Board of Regents, to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the UW-Madison in order to improve the quality of education for all students attending the University, and to insure that the future leaders of our state and nation, regardless of their race or ethnicity, are prepared for leadership in our increasingly diverse society (Faculty Document 202, February 3, 1975; Faculty Document 1064, April 4, 1994).

The Senate reaffirms its policy adopted January 11, 1971, that the University of Wisconsin-Madison “should strive to achieve in its undergraduate student body, a level of minority group representation that is at least proportional to the population served,” this goal of proportional representation shall also be applied to graduate/professional school enrollments (Faculty Document 267, December 6, 1976).

The Senate Admission Policy, effective Spring 1991, states: “New Freshmen applicants must satisfy the following minimum requirements to be considered: Graduation in the upper half of their high school class from a recognized high school or equivalent. They must also have a minimum of 16 high school credits in specified courses. And must submit an ACT or SAT score. When restrictions on the size of the freshman class make it necessary to select from among qualified applicants, the following criteria and priorities shall be used: Membership in a minority, disadvantaged, or other group for which the University faculty has authorized special outreach efforts. Qualified applicants in these special outreach groups shall normally be admitted.” (Faculty Document 843-5, March 5, 1990).

Student Retention Policies

The University shall seek to increase academic retention rates among minority students to a level equal to that of other students as soon as possible and at the latest by the year 1981 (Faculty Document 267, December 6, 1976).

The Faculty Senate goal is to “increase academic retention rates among minority students to a level equal to that of other students as soon as possible and at the latest by the year 1981” (Faculty Document 319A, September, 1978, p. 4).

Environment

Develop a climate on campus that is supportive of all students from all racial and ethnic groups (Faculty Document 355, May 7, 1979; Faculty Document 1064, April 4, 1994).

Provide a community in which all students, academic and classified staff, and faculty are accepted and judged as individuals, independent of ancestry, social background, physical characteristics, or personal beliefs (Faculty Document 255: May 7, 1979).

Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention

Continued progress in increasing the number of minority faculty and academic staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The ultimate goal is to have a faculty and academic staff that reflects the diversity of our society (Faculty Document 202: February 3, 1976; Faculty Document 1064, April 4, 1994).

Curriculum and Research

Continue to provide courses and other programming that prepare all students for life in an increasingly diverse society, and continue to carry out research on racial and ethnic minority groups (Faculty Document 255: May 7, 1979; Faculty Document 1064, April 4, 1994).

Outreach

Continue to provide services and programs and to increase interactions with members of minority communities outside the University (Faculty Document 355: May 7, 1979; Faculty Document 1064, April 4, 1994).

Admissions

Applying the Policy

Policy I C.

When restrictions on the size of the freshman class make it necessary to select from among qualified applicants, the following criteria and priorities shall be used in order to implement the University’s goals of maximizing the success of students who are admitted to UW-Madison and of achieving a heterogeneous and ethnically diverse student body.

The primary criteria for admission shall be:

1. Membership in a minority, disadvantaged, or other group for which the University faculty has authorized special outreach efforts. Qualified applicants in these special outreach groups shall normally be admitted.
2. Likelihood of graduation as determined in the following manner:
   1. The primary criterion for admitting the majority of qualified applicants will be high school rank. (Standards applied to nonresidents may be equal to or higher than resident standards.)
   2. Resident and nonresident qualified applicants with a test score at the 90^th percentile (college bound norms) or greater who meet all criteria for admission except high school rank shall be admitted unless other data provide an academic reason for non-admission.
   3. Up to one-fifth of the qualified applicants not meeting either the high school or test score thresholds may be considered for admission based on a factor of combined high school rank and test score. (Standards applied to nonresidents may be equal to or higher than resident standards.)

(Faculty Document 843, March 5, 1990, effective Spring 1991)

File last updated: November 18, 2005
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