UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 34, Page 3
June 11, 1992
Diversity training set June 23-25

     The Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity will
sponsor diversity training workshops open to any member of the
University community interested in becoming a diversity trainer, on
June 23, 24 and 25.
     The all-day workshops will be held from 8 a.m..-4:30 p.m., each
day, in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center.  Supervisors
are encouraged to give interested employees time off to take the
training, Judith Y. Gibson, assistant vice president for affirmative
action and multicultural programs, said.
     The session on June 23 is for "experienced" diversity
trainers-those who have already had some diversity training at the
University or elsewhere. The session on June 24 is for persons with no
previous training. Day three is a combination session for all who
attend days one and two.
     Space is limited to 35 people on each of the first two days.
Persons from all employee groups are urged to attend, Gibson said.
     Those who complete diversity training are expected to help offer
diversity training to other University groups. One of the first
projects will be to assist with diversity education workshops for new
student orientation, Gibson said.
     "Diversity training is very valuable," she said. "The University
is committed to increasing diversity and this is one way we are able
to work toward improving the climate. Workshops such as these help us
to improve the climate individual by individual."
     The workshops will be presented by Robert C. Buchanan of the
National Coalition Building Institute. In a letter to Gibson, Buchanan
outlines his plans for integrating new members in the established
(diversity training) team and enhancing the ability to expand the team
to carry out its diversity mission at the university. The combined
program on day three, he said, is designed to bring new and former
diversity trainers together "to build unity and a sense of purpose."
     "The goal of our work goes beyond the workshops we do," Buchanan
said. "Our work is about creating change. It starts with a vision and
ends with caring and cooperative relationships between people."
     For more information on the diversity training, contact Gloria
Davis in the Office of Affirmative Action and Multicultural Programs,
at 831-8735.