UW-Madison diversity programs undergo realignment

University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin and Provost Paul M. Deluca Jr. have approved a number of new initiatives to strategically align and enhance diversity efforts on campus.  

These initiatives include:

• A realignment of several of key diversity programs, including PEOPLE, Posse, First Wave/Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives, the Center for Educational Opportunity, and the Office for Equity and Diversity, into the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate;
• Allocating resources to drive a more aggressive faculty diversity effort that will be managed by the vice provost for faculty and staff and the vice provost for diversity and climate.

These initiatives evolved out of a careful and deliberative set of discussions that were based on a benchmarking of our peer institutions, national best practices, input from campus leaders and findings from the year-long transition plan led by Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Damon Williams.

“These will allow us to achieve strategic alignment of some of our most prominent diversity programs to help us meet our goals of increasing access for qualified students, enhancing academic outcomes, recruiting and retaining a more diverse faculty and staff, and preparing all of our campus community to thrive personally and professionally in a world that is diverse, global and interconnected,” Williams says.

Williams adds that that these investments, combined with new projects funded through the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates and increased support for the recruitment efforts of the Division of Enrollment Management, demonstrate a deep commitment by our senior leadership to promote access and equity for all qualified students.

In a recent meeting with key stakeholders, DeLuca said he is confident in Williams’ leadership and that he believes that “our desired outcomes will be even more within our reach as a result of this reorganization.”