Bucking the Trend--1981

Proposals to Stablize and expand the Number of Black Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students at The Pennsylvania State University. Presented to President John W. Oswald by The Forum on Black Affairs November, 1981

Executive Summary

(1) A survey of black faculty and staff to develop a data base which will allow an assessment of factors militating against more success in hiring and retention to be completed by June 30, 1982.

(2) A survey of peer institiutions to identify viable programs that have been instituted to strengthen professional development possibilities and recruitment of black faculty.

(3) Development of a special data bank containing information about black faculty and staff be established to be used to facilitate transfer of information to units seeking personnel.

(4) Use of survey results to design programs, to increase the competitiveness of black staff for positions of greater responsibility, and to design individualized development plans for each black staff member who elects to participate in such a program.

(5) Administrative analysis of specific factors inhibiting the identification of significant numbers of black candidates for senior level positions.
(6) Development of a mentoring system for all interested non-tenured track minority and women faculty.

(7) Establishment of summer seminars and a special fund to provide seed money to enhance the research capabilities of minority and women faculty.
(8) Establishment of a travel fund to support participation of minority and women faculty in national conferences where such participation will enhance scholarly endeavors.

(9) A survey of peer institutions to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of Penn State's current approach to admission of 'minority' students to graduate school and to the provision of financial aid to those students.
(10) Development of a data collection system to monitor recruitment of minority graduate students by individual departments and the academic progress of minority graduate students.

(11) Establishment of a centralized mechanism to develop strategies for strengthening Penn State's commitment to structures and activities that significantly impact blacks at Penn State.

CONCLUSION

The Forum on Black Affairs believes that the proposals advanced in this document provide a sound basis for expanding and consolidating the presence of blacks in all roles at The Pennsylvania State University. Nevertheless,"bucking the trend" of increasingly restricted access to educational and employment opportunities for Black Americans will require an institution-wide commitment. Good intentions notwithstanding progress toward stabiliziing the size and composition of Penn State's black community, will require risk-taking as well as visible and tangible indications of the seriousness of commitment. The program outlined by the Forum on Black Affairs can provide the basis for progress.