UNC honored for commitment to diversity

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was one of 53 colleges and universities nationwide that were honored recently for commitment to diversity.

Dr. Archie Ervin, UNC’s associate provost for diversity and multicultural affairs, accepted the award for the University recently from Minority Access Inc., a nonprofit education organization that supports academic institutions, government agencies and private businesses in improving the recruitment, retention and enhancement of minorities.

The honor was bestowed at the group’s 10th National Role Models Conference in Washington, D.C., which was addressed by Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. She is EPA’s first black administrator.

UNC’s diversity plan was included in a Best Practices Guide that Minority Access distributed to the participating college and university representatives.

“We are really pleased that Carolina’s diversity plan is cited as a best practice,” Ervin said. “Our national reputation as a leader in diversity programs and policies is due to the tremendous support of our provost, chancellor and the senior leadership across the University.”

He attributed the award in part to diversity education and training available to all campus units, recruitment of students from historically underrepresented populations and academic, social and support programs for students from diverse backgrounds.

According to the UNC Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, in fall 2008 Carolina’s undergraduate population was approximately 71 percent white, 11 percent black and 19 percent other. Comparable numbers for faculty and staff were 75 percent white, 14 percent black and 10 percent other.

Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs website: http://www.unc.edu/diversity

Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs contact: Miki Kersgard, (919) 843-6085