A survey of diversity and inclusiveness initiatives at Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions libraries

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Regina Koury ◽  
Jenny Lynne Semenza ◽  
Sandra Shropshire
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Short Explanation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe survey findings on diversity and inclusion initiatives at the Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions of Higher Education libraries. The findings would be helpful to libraries that are at the beginning of their own diversity and inclusion initiatives or that wish to compare ongoing efforts. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a survey of Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions of Higher Education libraries using Qualtrics, an online survey software. Link to the survey with a short explanation was e-mailed to the 324 identified contacts and 151 responses were received at the end of the survey. Findings Survey responses revealed that the most prevalent types of diversity and inclusion initiatives fall into one of three categories. These are the creation/enhancement of library collections, recruitment and collaboration with other campus units. Not surprisingly, lack of money and other resources are identified as challenges faced by those who engage in these initiatives. Originality/value No other research currently exists for those interested in assessing diversity and inclusion initiatives at the Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions of Higher Education libraries.

Survey on onboarding practices in Carnegie research institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Jenny Lynne Semenza ◽  
Tania Harden ◽  
Regina Koury
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Employees ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
Survey Responses

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe survey findings on onboarding initiatives at the Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions of Higher Education libraries. The findings would be helpful to libraries that are at the beginning of their own onboarding initiatives or that wish to compare ongoing efforts.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a survey of Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions of Higher Education libraries using Qualtrics, an online survey software. Link to the survey with a short explanation was e-mailed to the 319 identified contacts and 111 responses were received at the end of the survey.FindingsSurvey responses revealed that the most prevalent types of onboarding initiatives are an orientation to campus policies and procedures and meeting with human resources. Half of the respondents introduce new employees to the social/cultural norms of the library informally, with responsibility for onboarding falling on the supervisor. Surprisingly, diversity and inclusion have not been identified as formal components of the onboarding by those who engage in it.Originality/valueSpecific research into the onboarding initiatives of Carnegie Doctoral Research Institutions of Higher Education libraries does not exist.

Moving beyond the rhetoric on faculty diversity in higher education: an interview with diversity expert Dr Bailey Jackson

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica C. Gavino
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Organizational Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Faculty Diversity ◽  
Full Inclusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Diversity In Higher Education ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe aim of this article is to provide Dr Bailey Jackson's perspective on institutional and systemic barriers to full inclusion of diverse faculty in higher education through the lens of the multicultural organizational development (MCOD) model. Dr Jackson is renowned for his work on social justice, diversity and multiculturalism.Design/methodology/approachThis is a personal interview with Dr Bailey Jackson. This interview provides insight on institutional level change efforts through the MCOD framework, a perspective on why institutions get stuck on the way to becoming a healthy multicultural institutions, and the effect on moving the needle on faculty diversity in institutions of higher education.FindingsThe institutional obstacles and barriers tend to be centered around misalignment with mission, vision and core values, how those are formulated to include diversity and inclusion. Faculty diversity is only one component in dealing with the health of any organization or the academy as a whole. If institutions focus on diversity faculty in an unhealthy system, they will encounter limitations on how much the institution will develop on the MCOD continuum. The health of the overall system is going to affect the approach to faculty diversity.Practical implicationsDr Jackson provides insight on his work with the MCOD framework and specifically the overall health of the institution as critical to faculty diversity initiatives. Questions to help institutions begin to assess themselves and identify changes required to move toward Multicultural within the context of faculty diversity are provided.Originality/valueThrough a series of questions, insight from Dr Jackson on why institutions get stuck in moving the needle on faculty diversity through the lens of the MCOD framework is gained.

Nine emerging student needs

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hines ◽  
Alexandra Whittington
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Student Life ◽  
Student Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World Cafe ◽  
The Future ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A research project exploring emerging student needs explored six aspects of student life: living, learning, working, playing, connecting and participating. Design/methodology/approach A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to explore the future of six aspects of future student life. The resulting scenarios were analyzed for their implications, including the use of the World Café technique, and ultimately led to the identification of nine emerging student needs. Findings Nine specific emerging needs of future students could be used strategically by institutions of higher education to guide and inform planning and to generate innovative ideas for university offerings. Specific examples of offerings that would meet the projected future needs are recommended. Research limitations/implications In terms of research limitations, the paper is focused on the needs of students and does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of all of the issues influencing higher education. It views the future of higher education through the lens of students and their emerging needs. Practical implications The paper is intended for educators, researchers and administrators to provide insight on how the needs of students, their key customers, are evolving. Originality/value This piece explores student life in its totality as way to more accurately identify student needs in the future.

Communicating science in higher education and research institutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-205
Author(s):  
Thorsten Schwetje ◽  
Christiane Hauser ◽  
Stefan Böschen ◽  
Annette Leßmöllmann
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Internal Stakeholders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Executive Boards ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe paper reports on a research project exploring the change in the organizational context of communicators and communication units in higher education and research institutions (HERIs), the importance of informal processes within their daily work and the great diversity of expectations communicators have to tackle.Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review, a mixed-methods study combining expert interviews with 54 German HERI heads of communication units, an online-survey and a document analysis of organizational characteristics was conducted. Findings were validated in four focus groups.FindingsThe study illuminates the impact of organizational and operational structures of HERIs on communicators and their boundary spanning activities. Due to varying expectations of stakeholders, communicators constantly have to switch roles. Members of HERIs' executive boards affect status and working conditions for communicators in the organization.Research limitations/implicationsInterviews with other HERI actors, especially members of the executive board, are proposed to get more thorough insights into the organizational context of HERIs and the mutual expectations of different internal stakeholders.Practical implicationsInsights from the project may help HERI actors to reflect their organizational context and to identify potentially contentious structures or processes.Originality/valueCommunicating science sometimes clashes with complex organizational and operational structures. Despite the “organizational turn” in HERI research, there is a lack of data on the relation between communicators, their communication units and the larger organizational context. The exploratory study addresses this gap.

Navigating student success: learning from the higher education landscape

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-223
Author(s):  
Lynn Deeken ◽  
Meggan Press ◽  
Angie Thorpe Pusnik ◽  
Laura Birkenhauer ◽  
Nate Floyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Shared Interest

Purpose This paper aims to demonstrate the variety of ways institutions and their libraries approach student success both conceptionally and operationally. Design/methodology/approach Librarians from nine different institutions of higher education were given a series of questions about student success on their campuses and in their libraries. They responded with written essays describing their experiences and perspectives. Findings The contributed pieces are collected together and display a shared interest in defining “student success,” aligning strategic planning with student success initiatives and establishing (and assessing) strong infrastructure to support student success. Originality/value These examples help us observe what is happening throughout higher education and see potential paths forward at our own institutions engaged in this work.

Organizing so Black Lives Matter

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Cole ◽  
Audrey Grace
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Faculty Member ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Police Brutality ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Black Lives Matter ◽  
Racial Injustice

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to respond to racial injustice and white supremacy, within the context of ongoing Black Lives Matter activism against police brutality through public protests.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors consider the work of organizing institutions of higher education so that Black Lives Matter.FindingsThe authors offer a number of practical insights and suggestions in order to deal with racial injustice and white supremacy and better support Black faculty, staff and students on college campuses.Originality/valueIn addressing issues of racial injustice and white supremacy on college campuses, the authors bring together our experiences and perspectives as diversity officer and faculty member, respectively.

Emerging student needs disrupting higher education

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Hines
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
Student Perspective ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Student Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Preparation ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A research project exploring emerging student needs identified two potentially disruptive shifts for the future of higher education: a shift in balance of power from institutions toward the students and a shift in the purpose of higher education away from job preparation. The research suggests that current drivers are eventually moving toward these shifts but that several “accelerators” may hasten their arrival. The paper aims to describe the process for identifying the emerging needs, the potentially disruptive shifts and key implications for higher education. Design/methodology/approach A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to identify the emerging needs, the disruptive shifts and their implications. Findings Emerging student needs suggest two potential disruptive shifts for higher education: shift in balance of power from institutions toward the students and shift in the purpose of higher education away from job preparation. Practical implications Current institutions of higher education may need to reconsider their purpose, mission and value proposition in light of these disruptive shifts. Social implications Beyond just higher education, there is a need for a larger society-wide dialogue about the emerging future and how to best prepare students for it. Originality/value This extensive research carried out from the student perspective suggests disruptive shifts ahead relating to the purpose and future of higher education.

Stop the pain: Black and minority ethnic scholars on diversity policy obfuscation in universities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akile Ahmet
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Predominately White ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Diversity Policy ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
Minority Ethnic

PurposeThe author extends the work on diversity policy in UK higher education by centring the voices of Black and minority ethnic scholars and de-centring white comfort with the aim of a call to stop the pain that sanitised university diversity policies cause Black and minority ethnic scholars.Design/methodology/approachUsing in-depth qualitative and auto-ethographic research methods, this paper engages with both respondents' narratives as well as the author's experience of carrying out the research within the walls of predominately white universities.FindingsIn order for universities to move beyond hollow and sanitised diversity, they must centre the voices of Black and minority ethnic scholars. Respondents spoke of their experiences of pain, and feelings of “taking up” space in predominately white universities. The author also discusses respondents' feelings towards diversity and inclusion policies such as the Race Equality Charter Mark.Originality/valueThe research is built on previous work on diversity by decentring white comfort.

Rules versus relationships and campus sexual misconduct

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-241
Author(s):  
Brian Pappas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Title Ix ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Sexual Misconduct ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Authority ◽  
University Leaders ◽  
Relational Strategies

Purpose How do university compliance administrators implement the rules prohibiting campus sexual misconduct? Title IX Coordinators’ authority is legal–rational and derives from the power to enforce Title IX and university rules. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Analyzing narratives collected from administrators at 22 large institutions of higher education, this paper distinguishes rules from relationship-oriented Coordinators and develops an understanding of how and why Title IX Coordinators utilize relational authority as they implement Title IX. Findings The key finding is that relational administrators exhibit less institutional authority than their rules-based counterparts and focus on their relationships with complainants and respondents over university leaders and administrators. Originality/value While other researchers have focused on rules, this research demonstrates how Title IX Coordinators draw heavily on relational strategies.

Higher education skills and work-based learning article: towards greater inclusion in skills competitions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-692
Author(s):  
Neil Bentley-Gockmann
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Young People ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Vocational Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Part ◽  
Short Overview ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Transformative Approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a short overview of WorldSkills UK's deep mission to improve the diversity and inclusivity of its skills competitions, in order to give more young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to achieve their potential.Design/methodology/approachOpinion piece outlining the organisation's stated aims and objectives with respect to diversity and inclusion, incorporating fresh insights from emerging research.FindingsMakes the case for a transformative approach to diversity and inclusion in a critical part of the UK's FE system, providing unique insights into one organisation's trailblazing approach.Originality/valueA case study of a hitherto under-reported, yet important, aspect of vocational skills policy.

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