How can campus women turn core values into action?

Making campus leadership more diverse is a priority of the American Council on Education (ACE) in its new strategic plan unveiled in November 2002. Three months later, the ACE network state coordinators discussed how women can make the ACE core values of inclusiveness and diversity a reality on their campuses.

Seated around one huge table, they exchanged ideas with University of Colorado at Denver chancellor Georgia Lesh-Laurie and Thomas Nelson Community College VA president Shirley Pippins, as part of a network leaders conference sponsored by the ACE Office of Women in Washington DC.

ACE called its new strategic plan a response to the fast-changing environment in higher education. Women around the table noted that today's reality is conservatism and backlash. "If we don't challenge the current environment, all the diversity will disappear," one said. Women presidents who appoint mostly women and minorities may get thrown out. In such a climate, what can women do to make higher education leadership more diverse?

Walk the walk

"If the head ain't right, the body can't get right." Pippins cited the African American expression to say the first step toward a multicultural campus is to show you value it.

Seek diversity in speakers and keynoters. Be sensitive to terminology. Hold events that promote bonding between individuals from different cultures.

Take care when appointing a "first;" she needs to be strong and principled to make a difference. Recognize what she needs for comfort in an alien environment. Work toward a critical mass so she won't stay an "only" for long. Critical mass makes the newcomer less isolated and conspicuous, but it may increase backlash.