Diversity & Multiculturalism at SLU!

Office of
DIVERSITY
&
MULTICULTURAL
ISSUES
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY
College of Education and Human Development

WELCOME TO OUR HOME PAGE

Sally Clausen, President of SLU is encouraging all academic and administrative departments to participate in the celebration of the institution's 75th birthday in 2000. Seventy-five years ago, diversity was hardly a priority. In 1954, SLU was challenged by 13 Black students who wished to enroll at the university, subsequently removing its practice and policy of Whites only admissions. The changing national demographics dictate the need for diversity and multicultural programs at universities and colleges across the nation. National and regional reports indicate that the racial and ethnic minority population has increased and will continue to do so in the near future. Thus, institutions of higher education should also undergo transformation and change to better accommodate the changing demographic composition. University diversity programs must also afford racial and ethnic groups the full opportunity to participate in and benefit from higher education (National Education Association, 1987; Mangieri, 1992).

Making diversity a top and real institutional priority is the key to an institution's success in the next millennium. For this reason, the College of Education has taken giant steps toward making diversity a priority.

Upon assuming the deanship in 1997, Dr. Stephen Ragan created two faculty and student committees to (1) address accreditation issues and (2) clarify the position and definition for diversity thereby increasing awareness of a new institutional core value, “valuing diversity.”
He undertook steps to acquaint the College of Education faculty about the need to add diversity to its strategic plan for the year 2000.
In 1998, he hired Dr. Celina Echols as coordinator of diversity and multicultural issues for the college.
The forum, Creative Partnerships: Gateways to Embracing Diversity and Multicultural Education was conducted by Dr. George Pritchy Smith, University of Northern Florida in April 1999 to address diversity issues relative to accreditation standards at SLU.
Plans for remodeling the Teacher Education Center involve housing a Multicultural Instructional Design Studio that offers resources to students, faculty, and educators in school districts within the surrounding parishes.
The Dean continues to encourage and support staff who write grants enabling undergraduate education majors to address the needs of diverse populations (See links listed below for College of Education homepage: Project Create and Project Prepare).

Dr. Ragan’s efforts have assisted the increasing enrollment of minority students from 1,990 students in 1997 to 2,342 students in 1998 (Institutional Research and Assessment Student Records Systems, 1999). Diversity is a big concern because of the challenge it offers to college and university graduates and undergraduates, interacting in a society of many races, cultures, values, and norms. However, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Issues is preparing to undertake the task of creating knowledge, skills, sources, and awareness for these students, their academic leaders, and the surrounding community. As futuristic thinkers embodying an America of informed educator educators, SLU embraces the opportunity to address issues of diversity and multiculturalism.

We hope this web site illustrates our commitment to this task.

CAMPUS
LINKS

EXTERNAL
LINKS

CONTACT
US

COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION

SLU
HOME

NCATE
PLAN

LIBRARY
RESOURCES

C. V. ECHOLS
HOME

PROJECT
CREATE

FORUMS

TIPS 4 MAINTAINING MULTICULTURAL SCHOOLS

PROJECT PREPARE

Questions or comments about this site should
be directed to Dr. Celina V. Echols:

cechols@selu.edu

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