2008 Woodie Awards
Report: NU minority, female hiring on the rise
Brian Moody
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News
The University of Nebraska has made strides in the hiring of minorities and women for faculty positions, according to a report made last month to the Nebraska Legislature.
Between 1995 and 2007, the number of female faculty members rose from approximately 25 percent to slightly more than 33 percent, while minority faculty increased from slightly less than 8 percent to nearly 15 percent, stated the 2008 NU system's Progress Report on Increasing Women and Minority Faculty.
While the university falls short in the hiring of minority faculty compared to its competitors, female recruitment has exceeded its peers by just over one percentage point.
These figures are attributed to diversity goals introduced by the university administration in the early 1990s with plans "to reach the midpoint of all peer institutions in the employment of women and minority faculty members" by 2005, according to a university statement.
"We like to stand among the rest," said Sharon Ulmar, associate director of human resources and equal opportunity at UNO. "We do that by creating programs that are focused on creating an inclusive environment."
Ulmar said inclusion is important to an institution such as the university, particularly in the classroom.
"The students like to see individuals like them also," Ulmar said. "If you only have one group of faculty that is teaching one group of students, it is not inclusive."
Junior Ashley Wright agrees a welcoming environment toward all cultures leads to an improved learning experience.
"It's important because it allows students to feel they are wanted versus strictly one culture," Wright said. "It allows people to interact with different cultures and different races, so they can have a different experience as far as getting to know other people who are not the same as you."
Ulmar said workshops, presentations, guest speakers and courses must change with time to maintain inclusiveness and instill this attitude with potential faculty candidates.
Between 1995 and 2007, the number of female faculty members rose from approximately 25 percent to slightly more than 33 percent, while minority faculty increased from slightly less than 8 percent to nearly 15 percent, stated the 2008 NU system's Progress Report on Increasing Women and Minority Faculty.
While the university falls short in the hiring of minority faculty compared to its competitors, female recruitment has exceeded its peers by just over one percentage point.
These figures are attributed to diversity goals introduced by the university administration in the early 1990s with plans "to reach the midpoint of all peer institutions in the employment of women and minority faculty members" by 2005, according to a university statement.
"We like to stand among the rest," said Sharon Ulmar, associate director of human resources and equal opportunity at UNO. "We do that by creating programs that are focused on creating an inclusive environment."
Ulmar said inclusion is important to an institution such as the university, particularly in the classroom.
"The students like to see individuals like them also," Ulmar said. "If you only have one group of faculty that is teaching one group of students, it is not inclusive."
Junior Ashley Wright agrees a welcoming environment toward all cultures leads to an improved learning experience.
"It's important because it allows students to feel they are wanted versus strictly one culture," Wright said. "It allows people to interact with different cultures and different races, so they can have a different experience as far as getting to know other people who are not the same as you."
Ulmar said workshops, presentations, guest speakers and courses must change with time to maintain inclusiveness and instill this attitude with potential faculty candidates.
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