Tech realigns programs, support services
By Layla Aslani, DMG WriterArticle Photos
HOUGHTON - Michigan Technological University is realigning programs and support services in its Educational Opportunities department in a move administrators said will bring Tech's diversity initiatives more front and center and reaffirms the university's commitment to diversity.
"We are taking programs where a solid foundation has been laid and basically ramping up our support and really creating a new level of awareness and really reaffirming our commitment to all the students that we serve," said Les Cook, vice president for student affairs.
Through the changes, Tech will create a new outreach and multicultural affairs center that will provide services for all students including ethnic minorities, women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, according to a press release from the university.
Some programs in Michigan Tech's Department of Educational Opportunity will be incorporated into the new center, which will report to Student Life, part of the Division of Student Affairs. Shalini Suryanarayana, who has headed Educational Opportunity, will be the new center's director.
Other current Educational Opportunity programs will move to different sections of Student Affairs or other University departments. Summer Youth and other K-12 outreach programs will become part of Enrollment Services. Teacher training and conference services will become part of the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences in the College of Sciences and Arts. ExSEL (Excelling in Science and Engineering Learning) will operate under the COMPASS program (Center for Orientation, Mentoring, Parents and Academic Student Success) as part of Student Life.
"Realigning academic support services under Student Life and student recruitment efforts under Enrollment Services makes good sense," Cook said. "The new structure will enable us to expand our diversity efforts, to align similar functions and to create new synergies without duplicating efforts. It promises exciting new opportunities for supporting our multicultural students and ensuring their success."
Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz said the move is congruent with Tech's Diversity Framework, a plan that describes the actions that must be taken over the coming years to achieve diversity.
"It is critical that we promote the simple notion that we and our students are best served by a climate that celebrates the diversity of people and thought," he said. "It's critical for individuals, our university and our country. The time is now to meld many of the core activities of educational opportunity into student affairs, so that we can focus our resources - talent and money - on building a student population that reflects the diversity of our country and the world."
In conjunction with the restructuring, Cook announced several other appointments and staffing changes. Theresa Jacques, who has been serving as interim registrar, will become registrar. Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Bill Roberts will become director of financial aid and Director of Financial Aid Tim Malette will become budget analyst for student affairs and senior accounts manager for financial aid.
Susan Liebau will remain director of ExSEL and will become associate director of COMPASS. Kerri Sleeman will continue as director of COMPASS and assume additional responsibilities as associate director of housing facilities. Associate Director of Student Activities Jared Johnson will become director of student activities, a position he has been acting as over the past months.
Cook said some "behind the scenes" departments in the administration building will move to the former UPPCO building.
"Those will move and then student service departments will be moving into the administration building," he said, noting the building will keep its administration offices, but also be "a one-stop shop for students services."
Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani@ mininggazette.com.
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HarveyMilk
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06-03-09 4:09 PM
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THF: There is already freedom of speech on campus, but some speech is always more free than others depending on the severity of the reaction to that speech. The social effect of this is to create a negative undercurrent that must be navigated by those minorities. The safest short run play tends towards nondisclosure, in being closeted and meek in various forms and this has a direct long run impact on trust and confidence based leadership skills as well as on overall academic performance of the student. To counteract this undercurrent of negativity MTU is creating a positive space where minorities are celebrated publicly and leadership building networking can ensue. This isn't a pile of money we're talking about here and I see the payback in everyone's macroeconomic view to be quite a bargain even if you that think gay=sin, that's better than gay=sin+an_underperforming_tax_class since your nonacceptance of gay people doesn't make them disappear.
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WylieD
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06-03-09 3:25 AM
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THF: there are at two Catholic churches that have considerable outreach on campus, and at least one of them, if I recall, preaches traditional interpretations of "sin." So does the Campus Crusade for Christ, and IVCF on campus. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing about any student or professor who attended a conservative church or held conservative beliefs about "sin" being threatened or jumped or denied a position or voice on campus. Perhaps you can refresh us.
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lmquick
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06-03-09 2:11 AM
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FYI: Before you argue about MTU being state-funded... Michigan Tech Financial Data State appropriation $48,131,899 25% Tuition and fees $48,799,993 26% Grants and contracts $42,431,337 22% Auxiliary & other rev $50,740,431 27% Source: MTU Fast Facts June 30, 2007 (percentages added) As you can see, MTU does receive state funds, but students/parents, etc pay much more in tuition and auxiliary services (book store, meals, parking tickets, etc), or more than half of Tech's finances....and another quarter being from research grants and contracts... Sorry...just wanted to rant the disproportion of falling state funds and skyrocketing tuition costs attributed to MTU :)
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TheHardFacts
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06-02-09 11:22 PM
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HM - You wander in circles without ever addressing my main point. You grasped that "Diversity" exists by nature when you said: "indoctrination of something that people just naturally are (gender, race or sexual orientation)". So why is it necessary for a public institution like MTU to promote it? More to the point - why not simply allow freedom of speech on campus? The reason is that it's not about diversity at all. Diversity would require tolerating diverse views. Neither MTU, nor many bashers on this blog, will welcome a Catholic who openly states homosexuality is sinful. While they give lip service to tolerance, MTU hypocritically uses our tax dollars to suppress views differing from PC. Will they offer the same "help and understanding" you favor for gays, racial minorities, etc. to a person who openly differs? No way! Political Correctness is rabid intolerance - ANTI-DIVERSITY.
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TheHardFacts
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06-02-09 10:47 PM
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WylieD - Thank you for demonstrating what happens when people get "Diversity" instead of a real education. Your lack of reading comprehension is evident when you accuse me of bashing "GLBT", or whatever. Can you read? No such thing appears in my post; you never even addressed its points. Instead of presenting rational arguments, you merely demonstrated your own intolerance by bashing others.
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WylieD
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06-02-09 7:45 PM
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Thank you, RabbitKiller, rustictom, TommyR, and "TheHardFacts" for demonstrating just exactly why MTU needs a good diversity program--to counter the intolerance, ignorance and flat-out bashing that obviously is still waiting for GLBT students many places they go. If it weren't for such nastiness, the money could be spent other places. Until the culture grows up a good deal more, congratulations, Tech, for filling in the gaps.
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RovingSteve
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06-02-09 5:16 AM
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Exposing students to diversity is a vital part of a university education. It's only political if your politics is about crudely attacking people who are different than you. And when women at MTU can walk across campus alone at 3am without worrying about being raped, when students of color no longer face discrimination on the basis of their race, and when people like the posters below stop comparing GLBT people to people who have sex with animals, then maybe Tech can take the extra money and redo the basketball courts at the SDC or something.
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HarveyMilk
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06-02-09 12:57 AM
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Moreover, I consider this to be an important function of the university. What you know is only so important, quite honestly. What do you think the retention rate on all that obtuse knowledge is, 10 years out? It's often who you know, how confidently you present yourself, how well you can work on a team and a string of past successess that gets you the job. Probably you'll think these type of 'investments' never actually pay out, are just pure pork, et al... which is certainly your right. I, however, will beg to differ having had the privilege of seeing these systems work first hand from a number of dedicated people whom together with the people they serve, have changed a number of lives for the better.
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HarveyMilk
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06-02-09 12:55 AM
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THF: Do you believe in college loans? If so, you can think of this as a particular type of loan. It helps to support those that actually need the help. It's done because it pays out in the long run, as those it helps are able to do better in school and to obtain higher paying, tax revenue generating jobs. In so doing, the US is more competitive internationally with fewer liabilities and a smarter electorate. I fail to see the political indoctrination of something that people just naturally are (gender, race or sexual orientation) and to have a specific systems in place that to provide real and practical help.
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TheHardFacts
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06-01-09 11:20 PM
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Just how does MTU - established as a public institution financed largely by taxpayers for the purpose of educating their children - get into the business of political indoctrination, AKA "Diversity"? True education encourages people to think for themselves; this MTU "Diversity" is Orwellian doublespeak for "Political Indoctrination". It's the height of arrogance for University faculty to claim they are moral authorities qualified to dictate what others think about controversial religions and ethical issues. Marxist Socialism is alive an well at MTU! Taxpayers have every right and reason to demand that MTU Administrators either get back to the business of education, or else leave and go practice their politics elsewhere.
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ammcmaho
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06-01-09 6:56 PM
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wow people. sad as it is, i no longer long for moving back to the keweenaw. it seems as though such closed-mindedness is due to lack of education. open your minds, open your hearts. judge not lest thee be judged. any of these sound familiar for those of you who don't like diversity outreach because of religion? reaching out to those who may not otherwise graduate college helps IMPROVE the tax base. those who graudate college make more than those who don't so if reaching out to those who may otherwise not graduate college upsets you, perhaps it is because you're jealous no one reached out to you. in which case, there are programs for white men too, but in general, white men are able to make it through easier than those of us who are not straight white males.
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JustaMessage
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06-01-09 6:34 PM
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This is more of a message for any younger out and/or closeted, future students who may read the negative comments. So you know, over the years I've been at Tech, I've seen at least two fraternities that had closeted gay presidents, one that had an out one, a closeted head member of the college republicans, numerous out leaders in WHSA and other dorm orgs., heads of at least two enterprises on campus who were at least bisexual, some of the best TA's on campus, and numerous Graduate students, some who have brought in more money to the university than Buckskin is likely to see in his entire life. The only thing I hope this multicultural center does is help make it so more of these students come out while in college, rather than being scared to by what is really a very small and sadly very loud hateful minority.
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jlvf10
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06-01-09 6:27 PM
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This is amazing to hear. After spending a year at Tech it seemed like the GLBT community could use a little more support! I am glad to see that happening, especially as a member of KP. Tech is one of the most diversified schools I know of, so this is definitely a step in the right direction for the university!
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CalumetTechie
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06-01-09 2:37 PM
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Bravo "Harvey Milk" and "Clearwater." I'm not GLBT, nor am I a minority, but I recognize the obvious need for support services for these (and other) groups. Michigan Tech's open-minded and dedicated commitment to its students--ALL students, regardless of race, sexual orientation, etc.--is what makes me proud to call myself a Tech employee.
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HarveyMilk
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06-01-09 12:08 PM
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Often times, you need to be significantly more qualified than the straight white guy to get the job. Providing a campus space where one can network, gain leadership experience in a supportive environment is incredibly valuable for developing strong self esteem which leads to strong employees. I'm gay, I work in Silicon Valley, I know what I'm talking about. Let's say 5% of the population is GLBT, why would you not want to fully exploit their intellect to pay for your roads and schools when all it takes is a little glorified group therapy and a building to do it in?
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HarveyMilk
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06-01-09 12:08 PM
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Everyone should have an interest in supporting this, for purely selfish economic reasons. Why? Here's why. A more robust tax base, with people putting their full intellectual talents to good use use. The major goal of the school is to help students get tech jobs. Competing in this international tech job market is difficult, and if you're not bringing your A game to the interview, you're going home or taking an inferior job. There are some very significant discriminatory and networking challenges out there if you're GLBT. If you don't think that's true, do your best gay lisp and hit some job interviews.
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williaminpelkie
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06-01-09 10:57 AM
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TommyR, you seem to be all flustered and cranky about this diversity subject. Your bile is quite reactive and makes one wonder why you are so invested in trampling the rights of others? I suspect that you are a thwarted twinkie and are now making a career out of proving otherwise. Relax into the moment, breathe, and take a chill pill!
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HoneyB1
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05-31-09 7:44 PM
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RabbitKiller, First off, I respect your right to your opinions. However, I want to make one correction on your last post. You state that "forcing a public institution funded by taxpayer money to adopt to cultural trends in sexual behaviors shows no legal precedent ANYWHERE." While you are correct in the state of Michigan, sexual orientation is NOT a protected class, you are incorrect to state that this does not exist anywhere. Sexual orientation is protected by other states in our country, hence they can be forced to do so in other states or in your words IT'S THE LAW. Carry on...
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RabbitKiller
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05-31-09 5:36 PM
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Let's keep a level head, people. If you can't, then visit my website where you can get as ugly and personal you want. My first post was a legitimate question. My second expounded on the reasoning behind my post. If somebody has a legitimate disability under federal guidelines, than by all means, they deserve special accommodations. If they are Muslim or black, then they are protected under the Constitution (as much as I find Islam repugnant, it doesn't matter--it's the law.) But forcing a public institution funded by taxpayer money to adopt to cultural trends in sexual behaviors shows no legal precedent ANYWHERE. Those of you who say your are not giving anymore money to MTU are delusional. Your state taxes support them indirectly.
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BuddyBoy
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05-30-09 7:55 PM
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"that will provide services for all students including ethnic minorities, women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students" I don't understand. What 'special services' to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students need that they don't get aready?
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buckskin
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05-30-09 6:05 PM
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Rustictom I agree with you, when I went to tech they even made me pay out of state tuition because I was just discharged from the service and was considered no longer a resident of Mich. I worked a part time job to make up the difference. I expected no special treatment and got none.
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Clearwater
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05-30-09 5:32 PM
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The tone of hatred and the lack of understanding in these posts actually reveal the need for such initiatives. Shameful, really.
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williaminpelkie
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05-30-09 2:36 PM
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Unrequited trangender love and feelings of rejection must certainly propel some of these posters toward bitterness and frustration. I can only offer my sympathy for your heartache and better luck next time!
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terrybraun
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05-30-09 2:32 PM
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How does the name- DIVERSITY UNIVERSITY sound as a new future name?
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rustictom
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05-30-09 2:11 PM
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I might also add to my previous message - Tech will no longer receive funds from me. I would rather not concentrate any future money donations to an organization which has programs that favor some behavior over that of another.
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