Chronology items before 2016
December 8, 2015: Refer to the updates in the Meeting Summaries, Events, Programs and Trainings, and Diversity and Inclusion sections for detailed information stemming from this meeting.
December 1, 2015 meeting summary: Members of the Provost’s Diversity Task Force met for the second time on December 1, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The focus of this meeting was to learn more about the climate resolutions authored by Undergraduate and Graduate Student Governments. The Task Force discussed several items including: student, faculty, and staff representation on the Task Force; methods to share meeting information with the community; and a few immediate action items.
The Task Force discussed formation of a 30-40 member Advisory Board to the Provost Task Force to broaden representation from key stakeholder populations. The Task Force also endorsed a few time-sensitive action items: (1) development and coordination of Diversity Training for new Student Leaders in spring 2016; (2) conference for school-based Diversity Liaisons in spring 2016; and (3) Diversity Awareness Education for students living in USC Residence Halls. The next meeting of the Provost’s Diversity Task Force is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8th. This meeting will focus on the climate resolution for Academic Senate.
December 1, 2015: Dean Jack H. Knott of the USC Price School of Public Policy announces a new school-wide initiative, The Initiative on Diversity, Social Justice, and Inclusion. Building on the school’s commitment to social justice, the initiative is led by a task force comprised of students, faculty, and staff, and focuses on hiring diverse faculty and staff, student recruitment, fostering a supportive environment, making diversity a key policy issue, and supporting outreach activities that engage in shaping public dialogue and policy.
November 20, 2015: The 10-member Provost’s Diversity Task Force holds its first meeting. The committee reviewed the Provost’s memorandum and committee charge, discussed themes of the three climate resolutions, and explored options for tackling the work.
The climate resolutions had four themes: staffing structure for diversity administration, education, data sharing, and space/resource allocation. The committee also recognized the need to determine a vehicle to include input from members of the community outside the task force.
Three options were discussed: (1) break into subcommittees that invite USC community members to participate or (2) remain intact and invite input from the community based on topics of discussion. The committee elected to remain intact and invite members of the community to discussions based on topics. The committee also determined December 1 and December 8 were the next two committee meetings. The December 1 meeting will focus on inviting student authors to discuss climate resolutions. The December 9 meeting will focus on authors of Academic Senate to discuss their climate resolution. Dates and locations for spring 2016 meetings are to be determined.
November 19, 2015: President C. L. Max Nikias meets with USG President and Vice President to discuss campus climate.
November 17, 2015: Co-chairs of the Provost’s Diversity Task Force host meeting with student government leadership (undergraduate and graduate) to discuss provost’s memorandum and composition of Provost’s Diversity Task Force.
November 16, 2015: Provost Michael W. Quick sends message to the USC Community, “Access and Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion.”
November 12, 2015: Provost Michael W. Quick and Vice President of Student Affairs Ainsley Carry hold a public meeting with student leaders and key authors of the campus climate resolution passed by the Undergraduate Student Government at an open forum in the United University Church.
October 21, 2015: “Proposal for Policy Change on Campus Climate” is submitted by the Academic Senate Campus Climate Committee.
October 20, 2015: USG resolution “Reform USC’s Campus Climate” is passed.
October 19, 2015: GSG resolution “The Establishment of Campus Climate Initiatives” is passed.