Steps aim to boost staff diversity at Princeton University

President Tilghman announces series of appointments

By: Hilary Parker
   Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman has taken a series of actions to increase and support staff diversity based on recommendations from the Diversity Working Group — a group of 20 staff members and administrators co-chaired by Janet Dickerson, vice president for campus life, and Mark Burstein, executive vice president.
   "One of the working group’s key recommendations was that Princeton should increase its administrative capacity and leadership in areas related to staff diversity," President Tilghman said in an e-mail message to faculty and staff. "Provost (Christopher) Eisgruber and I agree with this recommendation, and we are accordingly providing new resources that we expect will improve communication and outreach regarding diversity-related issues and will increase Princeton’s ability to recruit, hire and retain a more diverse staff."
   In fulfilling this recommendation, President Tilghman promoted Terri Harris Reed from the position of associate provost for institutional equity to vice provost of institutional equity and diversity.
   "I am looking forward to my new role as vice provost for institutional equity and diversity and to the increased visibility it will give Princeton’s diversity-related initiatives," said Vice Provost Reed. "This promotion allows me to dedicate more of my time to collaborating with the offices and individuals who directly influence our ability to hire, retain and promote a workforce that is talented and diverse."
   In addition, two positions supporting diversity at the university will be created. The director of equal opportunity programs and services will be housed in the Office of the Provost, and will report to Vice Provost Reed. The second position, in the Office of Human Resources, will report to the vice president for human resources and seek to make the university an attractive place for "people with minority backgrounds" to work, according to a statement issued by the university.
   After its creation in fall 2004, the Diversity Working Group issued an interim report denoting ways the university could increase and support staff diversity, and will submit a final report by the start of the next school year. The group is currently finalizing the choice of a consulting firm to assess factors affecting diversity at the university.