MEMO
To: Members of the University Council
Fr: The University of Georgia Multicultural Network
Re: Cultural Diversity Policy
Date: May 29, 1995
On behalf of the University of Georgia Multicultural Network, we would like to address
concerns related to the cultural diversity policy that is currently on the floor. The UGA
Multicultural Network is a group of faculty, staff, and studentts from across the
University whose mission is to provide the University community with encouragement
and support toward the development of multiculturalism. The Network has been
discussing curriculum and campus climate issues over the past year. We have been
following the University Curriculum Committee development of the cultural diversity
policy and commend the effort put forth to address
diversity diffusion at the University level. Based on the
May, 1995 policy related to general principles, we want to raise
the following concerns:
1) We recommend that the general principle three (3) be amended to say that: The
University shall ensure that all undergraduate students be exposed to issues of
cultural diversity in their course of study. This requirement may be a single course or a
combination of courses.
2) The guidelines for development of the implementation committee should ensure
that persons of culturally diverse backgrounds, including students, will be members of
the committee.
3) Within the implementation guidelines, cultural diversity is defined as focusing on
issues related to American minorities. We recommend that cultural diversity be
defined more broadly to include issues related not only to ethnic or racial minorities,
but also to address racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ageism, ableism,
ethnocentrism, and other related issues.
We support your endeavors related to curriculum reform at The University of Georgia.
We urge your consideration of the concerns we have raised as you deliberate next
steps in the development of the cultural diversity policy for The University of
Georgia.