Nov. 10, 1995<p>

FOR RELEASE: Upon receipt<br>         CONTACT: Enrique Corredera<br>

<strong>UVM PROVOST ANNOUNCES DIVERSITY ACTIONS</strong><hr size=5>

University of Vermont Provost Robert B. Low today announced
a number of actions that, in his words, &#34;will help UVM move
forward more effectively as we work to promote diversity,
equality, racial justice and multicultural education.&#34;<p>
&#34;The purpose of the strategies I am announcing is to create
more inclusive, collaborative efforts on the campus, combined
with professional leadership and accountability,&#34; Low said.<p>
The actions include:<p>
<ul>
<li>Appointing Leon Lawrence last month as assistant to the
president, who is assigned the primary tasks of moving UVM's
diversity initiatives forward during the 1995-96 academic year.<p>
<li>Hiring Douglas Samuels as interim director of the Office
of Multicultural Affairs. Samuels, formerly director of
residential life at Johnson State College, is studying for his
doctorate in educational administration at UVM.  Samuels will
begin on Monday, Nov. 13, replacing Angela Cooke-Jackson, who was
serving as interim director and has requested a leave of absence
from the university.<p>
<li>Launching a national search for director of the Office
of Multicultural Affairs.  The search committee will be named
shortly.<p>
<li>Re-starting a national search for an executive officer
for cultural pluralism and racial equality. It is expected that a
person will be hired during the spring.<p>
<li>Creating an advisory group, chaired by the provost, to
work on issues of diversity equality, racial justice and
multicultural education. The group&#180;s membership includes
Lawrence; Donald Grinde, director of the ALANA Studies Program;
Wanda Heading-Grant, executive officer for affirmative action;
Rebecca Martin, director of libraries; Kathleen Ford, director of
international educational services; Dean Batt, vice president for
student affairs; and J.R. &#34;Deep&#34; Ford, associate professor in the
Community Development and Applied Economics Department.  Provost
Low also will be inviting the leaders of the Student Government
Association, Staff Council and Faculty Senate to participate, as
well as several students. The advisory group will assist the
provost in strategic planning, program evaluation and resource
allocation toward these efforts.<p>
<li>Reorganizing the work of the Commission on Racial
Justice and Multicultural Education. This already has begun with
the appointment of the advisory group, and it will conclude
sometime after the arrival of the executive officer for cultural
pluralism and racial equality. Commission funding will be
directly supervised by the provost and will continue to be
designated for diversity initiatives. The provost will make
budgetary expenditures with guidance and input from the advisory
group. Individuals or groups from the UVM community will have an
opportunity to submit proposals for allocation of these funds.
</ul>
In describing this decision, Low said, &#34;The commission's
current structure, which I approved last year, has not led to the
collaborative and inclusive perspective necessary to fully
involve the campus community. While the commission has made some
positive contributions, it is my belief that at this time we need
a new approach to help us move forward collectively with these
important efforts. I have heard from numerous members of our
community who confirm this view.<p>
     &#34;These strategies will allow UVM to continue our important
work on a more effective, collaborative and accountable basis,
and will allow us to build on the foundation we have already
established and presented to our Board of Trustees for progress
on issues of diversity equality, racial justice and multicultural
education.&#34;<p>
                              
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