Campus Plan 2008 forum set for Sept. 29

Students, faculty and staff are invited to spend Thursday, Sept. 29, and Thursday, Nov. 3, discussing ideas and inspiration for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s efforts to improve diversity and campus climate.

The sixth annual Plan 2008 campus forum will be held over two days, from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at Memorial Union (check Today in the Union for room location). All sessions are free, and the entire Madison community is invited.

Plan 2008 is the campus blueprint to increase the diversity of UW–Madison’s students, faculty, staff, curricula and campus life. At the session, Associate Chancellor for Diversity and Climate Bernice Durand will discuss a new campaign, called “Creating Community,” which will be the centerpiece of diversity and climate efforts in the 2005-06 academic year.

“Attendance by all members of the campus community, even for just and hour or two, is important to continue to enhance diversity and climate as some of the highest priorities of this campus,” Durand says.

As part of the focus on community, all attendees are encouraged to bring a small object that symbolizes a personal commitment to community-building to discuss with others.

For the second year in a row, the session is being held during the fall semester to give participants time to apply the ideas and strategies presented, says Durand.

The forum will begin with introductions by Chancellor John Wiley, Provost Peter Spear, College of Letters and Science Dean Gary Sandefur and Plan 2008 Diversity Oversight Committee chair L.D. Oakley, an associate professor of nursing.

There will be a discussion of overall progress and ways that the entire campus community can participate in improving diversity and climate. Later in the day, there will be a stepping performance by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a brown-bag lunch, breakout sessions and a closing party at 5:30 p.m.

Faculty members are encouraged to allow classes to attend forum sessions as a substitute for a normal class meeting. Unit supervisors are encouraged to stagger attendance by their staff to allow for everyone to attend part of the forum. Classified staff members can attend in in-pay status, after notifying their supervisor.

A second follow-up session is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3, to work on skill-building.

To register, visit: http://www.ohrd.wisc.edu/reg/catalog_course.aspx?groupcoursekey=11816.

For a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.provost.wisc.edu/climate.html.