Purdue University releases report with new diversity goals

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Purdue University has released a report outlining 10 goals that the school plans to use to recruit and retain more underrepresented students, faculty and staff.

The report released last week by the Provost's Advisory Committee on Diversity also aims to create a campus climate that embraces diversity. Among the initiatives are having colleges and departments set diversity enrollment goals, which has a timeline of 18 months, and closing the gap in retention and attrition rates among minority students, a long-term goal with a 10-year timetable.

Already, many activities are underway and the university is starting to have discussions with faculty and departments so they can their set their own specific diversity goals, according to Mark Smith, dean of the Graduate School and member of the Diversity Leadership Team.

"That's really where I think the majority of the transformation is going to happen because it impacts the students," he said.

Since the report is a living document, the university will update and make changes to the report as leadership continues to receive input, Smith told the (Lafayette) Journal & Courier (http://on.jconline.com/1R3UZgJ).

"The document is meant to serve our campus and to help guide us in improving life on the campus, with respect to being inclusive and improving the quality of education and the environment for faculty, staff, students and (postdoctoral researchers) and our entire community," he said.

Provost Deba Dutta created the Provost's Advisory Committee on Diversity in October to address diversity issues on the West Lafayette campus.

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Information from: Journal and Courier, http://www.jconline.com