Suggestions for diversity education submitted to Southeast regents

A co-chairwoman of the President's Task Force for Diversity Education at Southeast Missouri State University on Friday presented preliminary recommendations to the university's board of regents for ways to improve diversity education at Southeast.

University officials also gave a brief update on the first phase of a Greek housing project.

The 34-member diversity task force has met six times since forming in March and is co-chaired by Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success and dean of students, and Morris Jenkins, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

Below presented six recommendations listed on the report to the board of regents Friday and outlined what the group has discussed.

"For me, in some ways, it seems like every time we talk about this, there's something happening in the media that's very relevant that ties the importance of having these kinds of discussions on campus," she said.

The group was formed in light of peaceful protests on campus in November after the announcement of a grand-jury decision not to indict Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in August.

On Wednesday, a white gunman in Charleston, South Carolina, fatally shot nine black churchgoers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the nation's most important African-American sanctuaries.

Since the group formed, Below said, it has been "very focused on race relations in all of our conversations, and I think that's been a very necessary conversation to have."

The students, she said, have been honest about the "wonderful experiences they've had as students," but also some of the more challenging ones.

"When it really comes right down to it, it's about taking the time to talk to one another and finding out the background of the variety of students that we have here on campus," she said.

The recommendations presented include:

• Developing college-level diversity action plans;
• Adopting culturally responsive teaching methods;
• Improving career development, mentorship and networking opportunities for underserved student populations;
• Increasing awareness and encouraging participation in undergraduate research opportunities;
• Using existing programs to build the cultural competence of new students; and
• Using existing organizations and diversity initiatives to raise the cultural competence of the campus community.

The task force will continue meeting throughout the year, and final recommendations will be shared with Carlos Vargas-Aburto, who will assume the presidency of the university July 1.

Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration, also presented an update on the university's long-discussed Greek housing project on nine acres on the west side of North Sprigg Street.

The development of the Greek village is part of an effort to increase student participation in Greek life that began in fall 2013.

Mangels said since the May board of regents meeting, the university has continued working with four Greek organizations that expressed interest and their financial ability to lease four houses that would be built as the first phase of the project.

The university and organizations have discussed the design and legalities of the project, she said.

The current arrangement allows for an initial one-year lease with 29 optional renewal periods.

Each chapter must deposit funds equal to half the first year's lease as security to cover missed lease payments, damages to the facility or lost revenue if the lease is not renewed.

Each house would have beds for 22 to 35 students who have to be at the sophomore level or above, and it would cost about $2 million.

The organizations would lease the houses, and the money paid to the university would go toward debt service.

A construction schedule calls for bids this summer, with a contract to be awarded in early fall.

The site would be developed, and four houses would be built over two years. An additional two to three houses would be completed for occupancy by fall 2016, with a remaining one to two houses completed in fall 2017.

At least two chapters must complete their lease documents before the university will award a contract for construction, Mangels said.

The draft lease documents are being reviewed by legal counsel for the university and the housing corporations representing the chapters.

Southeast officials will evaluate the best financing option based on the final construction cost estimate and current interest-rate climate, Mangels said.

Final financing will need approval by the board, officials said, and details will be presented early this fall before a construction contract is awarded.

klamb@semissourian.com

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