Droves of Ohio University faculty and staff converged yesterday to learn and talk about diversity on campus.
The Diversity Day of Learning, the first event in the Diversity Seminar Series, was held yesterday at the Human Resources and Training Center.
The morning panels and discussions covered socioeconomic, racial, class and sexual orientation issues, while the afternoon sessions dealt with managing and dealing with diversity in general.
Part of it is to remove labels and increase awareness
said Teri Combs, the Organizational Learning & Development Consultant for University Human Resources. It's about understanding diversity and how you define it.
The Office of Diversity, Access and Equity coordinated the event along with University Human Resources to better prepare attendees for handling diversity on campus, Combs said.
Combs also said it's important to keep an open mind when dealing with the large variety of talents a college campus has to offer.
It's mind boggling how much talent we have here at Ohio University she said.
Brian Bridges, vice provost for Diversity, worked with Combs when planning the daylong event and was featured in several panels throughout. During an afternoon panel, Bridges spoke on how he defined diversity.
My definition is more broad and open to other aspects of diversity Bridges said. We have to broaden our concepts of diversity to more than just race and gender.
He also said that with 47 percent of children in the United States under five years old, universities nationwide have to prepare to reach toward a broader market.
For OU to survive and thrive with this size of university
we need to tap into more diverse populations
Bridges added.
Future Diversity Seminar Series events are in the works to expand on the concept of diversity, Combs said.
If you do come
listen with an open mind and come away with something
Combs said.
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Pat Holmes
