U of L, UK seek higher diversity

Schools compete for all minorities

By Nancy C. Rodriguez
nrodriguez@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

Nat Irvin II was a professor at Wake Forest University for 10 years before coming to the University of Louisville this year.
"The thing that really impressed me was the leadership of the institution," said Irvin, the Strickler Executive-in-Residence Professor of Management in the College of Business. "It was a good fit for me."
Irvin's hiring -- and that of 13 other African-American professors -- has helped U of L continue its five-year trend of increasing diversity among its roughly 1,200-member faculty.
Since 2002-03 the university has seen the number of full-time black members grow from 61 to 98.
They now account for more than 7 percent of the entire faculty, according to preliminary numbers made available this week.
The university also has hired 26 Asian and five Hispanic professors.
"We feel really very blessed that so many people have wanted to come here, because they contribute a lot to our community," said U of L Provost Shirley Willihnganz.
University of Kentucky officials also are projecting an increase of 10 African-American professors -- the largest number of hires since the 2002-03 school year.
That brings the number of blacks among the 2,200 faculty members to 81 -- more than 3 percent.
The university also hired five Hispanic faculty members this year, bringing the total to 33.
The number of Asian faculty -- which was 194 last year -- was not available.
"The goal always is to show as much diversity as we can across the board. ... We're committed to doing so," said UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy.
Under Kentucky's equal opportunity plan and an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, the state's eight public universities and 16 community colleges must show that they are making progress in increasing their numbers of African-American students, faculty and staff.
Each institution has its own objective.
For example, U of L's is to have at least 7 percent black faculty; UK's is 3 percent.
Both say that they met their goals.
All the universities are compiling final numbers on minority faculty members, which will be forwarded to the Council on Post-Secondary Education for a report in January.
Failing to make progress in diversifying the faculty -- and in other areas as well, including enrollment -- can lead to state restrictions in implementing new academic programs.
The universities are judged on eight areas pertaining to diversity, and the community college system is judged on four.
U of L was the only university to show progress in all eight areas this past January, according to state officials.

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