When it comes to providing access and promoting diversity, Drew University enlists the entire campus, not just one or two offices.
Drew U. President Robert Weisbuch in 2007 appointed a Special Assistant on Diversity who also chairs the University Diversity Committee. This committee consists of members of the Drew community (faculty, staff and students) who maintain the charge of enhancing a culture of diversity on campus. This goal is accomplished through five sub-charges:
- Sharing information about best practices to simultaneously educate and sensitize the community to issues of diversity and create an excellence of inclusion across campus
- Collaborating with all three schools at Drew and administrative departments to construct goals and expectations to promote diversity throughout the university
- Assisting in recruitment strategies for students, faculty and staff
- Creating, soliciting and assisting the university with projects that pertain to issues of diversity
- Promoting inclusion of diversity across the curriculum
Within the Office of College Admissions Drew University also has a dedicated recruiter who works with multicultural students. Information regarding each of these staff members is available on Drew's Web site.
The Educational Opportunity Scholars (EOS) Program
Since 1974, over 150 Drew graduates have been Educational Opportunity Scholars (EOS) Program beneficiaries and the summer program has been extended from one to six weeks. Also, since the beginning of the program at Drew, the population of student participants has become increasingly reflective of the growing cultural diversity within the state of New Jersey. EOF alumni/ae who attended Drew have a vested interest in continuing our legacy of excellence in the future.
The EOS Program, which also goes by the name Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), is centered on the success of students. By providing academic intervention services, the program works to help participants reach their full potential here at Drew University. Success can be achieved by taking advantage of academic services, devoting adequate time to individual and group study, and applying newly acquired knowledge in classroom settings. Creating and maintaining a program that serves EOF students in the best possible ways is our constant challenge.
Additional Outreach
Drew's Web site has more than one section devoted to the topic of Diversity, including:
This past November Drew hosted the Annual Statewide Conference on Diversity Issues in Higher Education.
"It was great exposure for our students, staff and faculty as well as community groups," said Shaviece Harmon, the coordinator of multicultural recruitment at Drew's Office of College Admissions.
In addition, Drew provides support systems for all students. Drew works to develop strong ties between students and faculty and staff. The Offices of Student Life, the EOS Program and the diversity committee work together to provide a comprehensive support system for students at Drew.
NASFAA's Student Access and Diversity Committee would like to know what you do on your campus. Please submit any information on programs and/or activities from your campus that promote student access, diversity and success. NASFAA's Student Access and Diversity Committee's goal is to continually highlight best practices among NASFAA members and others.
Please share with us your programs by emailing details about programs to chittyh@nasfaa.org.
Posted 03/03/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
