“Sometimes there are other avenues to accomplish the same goals,” she says. “I don’t think [diversity] died a death and was ignored. I think it was picked up by other areas of the university.”
Monroe’s memories of the coalition are tinged with regret, she admits.
“My decision to leave, to take the attitude that, ‘You can have it!’ was a bit defeatist,” she says. “I’ve been doing that kind of work since 1995. It’s work, and it usually is a battle.”
Ensuring that higher education diversity initiatives remain on track can be a difficult proposition, although hardly an unattainable one, says Dr. Steve O. Michael, the vice provost of Kent State University
and a professor of higher education administration.
“I have advised institutions to establish chief diversity officers who report directly to the president,” he says. “It is also critical that colleges and universities have line budgets dedicated to achieving the goal of diversity.”
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
