Sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Diversity Associates Program provides instructors and staff with the opportunity to execute a diversity-related curriculum development project of their own design.  Projects should focus on one or more of the following areas: race, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, disability, gender, sexual identity, age, and/or religious viewpoints. Instructors and staff may propose an individual project or may propose a collaborative project with a colleague.

Individual Associates

For individual projects, each associate will receive a total of $900 ($500 initial stipend, $300 project completion stipend, and up to $100 for the purchase of print or electronic resources needed for successful execution of the project). Print or electronic materials which are not consumed/used by the end of the project will be returned to the office of Institutional Diversity.

Collaborative Associates

To promote the goal of creating a climate of faculty collaboration between majority and minority faculty, an additional three Collaborative Associates will be awarded. This effort is also in keeping with the observations made by national diversity consultants in higher education that there is very little collaboration between majority and minority faculty members. It is also believed that this lack of collaboration could very well influence institutional climate and thus, affects retention of minority faculty. Last, collaboration between majority and minority can be a direct means for faculty members to integrate their courses with cultural content and or activities. For collaborative projects, each participant will receive $900 (stipends same as above).

Ten Individual Associates will be selected, along with three Collaborative Pairs for a total of 16 Associates. Participating Associates from a variety of disciplines will come together to create an active learning community that promotes diversity in the curriculum.   By the end of spring semester 2009, Associates are expected to produce and disseminate the products of their project to an external audience, thus extending the diversity-centered learning community to the larger Ball State Campus and beyond.

Diversity Associate Activities

 

Associates will be expected to:

• Participate in a half-day workshop facilitated by the Director of the Office of Institutional Diversity.  The workshop will expose participants to the central role that diversity plays in higher education. Participants will have the opportunity to explore ideas, plan projects, and develop a synopsis and time-line for successful completion of their projects.
• Participate in two informal meetings with other participants and the Director of OID to monitor progress, share resources, brainstorm solutions, and share successes.
• Produce and disseminate the products of the project by the end of spring semester 2009, integrate into new or revised course, conduct a workshop or seminar, or contribute as essay or manuscript)
• Provide OID with a final project report (format will be provided by OID)

TO APPLY:   Submit a one-page proposal outlining your curriculum development project. The proposal should include your name and contact information, a brief description of the project, its potential products, dissemination plan, and how your participation in this program will benefit your department or area.  Proposals may be submitted via e-mail: oid@bsu.edu or campus mail to Dr. Charles Payne, Office of Institutional Diversity.  Proposals must be received by June 2, 2008 . Participants will be notified of their acceptance status by June 16, 2008.