PHOENIX — When it comes to diversity, officials at the University of Phoenix are not particularly shy about touting their numbers.
Nor should they be. By all accounts, the numbers are pretty darn impressive. In spite of some of the age-old criticisms directed at the private, for-profit college that was founded in 1976, the University of Phoenix has consistently been able to accomplish what many brick and mortar campuses have set out to do without much success: attract minority groups.
That process, however, has not been an easy feat either. University officials say that it has been a concerted effort that has included, among other things, targeted state faculty recruitment plans and aggressively courting individuals who might study at the virtual university that now boasts more than 140,000 students.
Now, the university is stepping up its efforts to focus even more attention on inclusion and climate issues, all the while expanding its outreach efforts across the nation.
Making diversity a priority
The university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity, headed by Dr. Angie Williams, has been leading the charge. Established in 2015, the office has been at the forefront of promoting cross-cultural understanding and forging collaborative relationships with existing national organizations, particularly those that work directly with Hispanics.
Saray E. Lopez, 34, the assistant dean of community outreach & inclusion, has been the public face of several of these new initiatives, helping to strengthen the institution’s connection more specifically to the Hispanic community, which already has a strong and vibrant presence throughout the city of Phoenix.
