In support of a diverse community

I am pleased to comment upon recent criticism of the employment and admissions practices of the University of Delaware, especially as they relate to minorities. My comments are quite straight-forward:

1. Our employment practices have been the subject of federal audits and have been found to comply with existing law. In addition, our faculty are judged by their students to be good teachers; scholarly attainments are commonplace; our business practices are modern and efficient; our campus is well-maintained and beautiful; and services are competently and cheerfully provided. You can thus take pride in the fact that the University of Delaware's hiring practices are not only legal but that the performance of the faculty and staff hired demonstrates that they deserved to be hired.

2. The University's minority students are high achievers with high retention rates. For example, a recent survey ranked the University of Delaware sixth among all public institutions in the graduation rates of African-Americans. You can thus take pride in the fact that students admitted to the University of Delaware demonstrate by their performance that they deserved to be admitted.

I pay special thanks to the many persons of all races who help nurture working, learning and living environments that are supportive of a diverse community. I particularly value the good work of our colleagues who administer or otherwise support ASPIRE, Fortune 2000, NUCLEUS, RISE and other programs that contribute to the success of our minority students.

I ask each and every one of you to join the University's commitment to have our institution be a place where difference--instead of being a source of fear and mistrust--is a source of education, enlightenment and friendship.

David P. Roselle

President