Memo
Date: February 18, 1997
To: University Council
From: The UGA Multicultural Network
Re: Support for Cultural Diversity Curriculum Development
The University Multicultural Network supports the efforts of
the University Council's Ad hoc Committee on Cultural Diversity and their
development of the proposal for Cultural Diversity Curriculum
Development.
The Ad hoc Committee on Cultural Diversity's
broad-based representation of University faculty, staff, and students has
produced a proposal which would allow each University School or College
autonomy in their development of a comprehensive plan to implement the
requirement to provide diversity in the curriculum for their undergraduate
students. The proposal does not advocate a simplistic, single-course
solution, but instead offers each school and college leeway in design to
suite the needs of their undergraduate program. If adopted, the proposal
would create a designation of a "Cultural Diversitv Resource Team" to
provide assistance to schools and colleges needing help in establishing
these plans.
As an organization committed to providing
students, faculty, and staff with access to resources that support the
development of multiculturalism within the University, the UGA
Multicultural Network is encouraged by the proposal's recognition of
existing resources and cultural content within the University's current
curriculum of multicultural course offerings. The adoption of the
Cultural Diversity Curriculum Development proposal will prepare University
of Georgia undergraduate students to become more competent in interfacing
with persons from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds as they
prepare to enter the work force.
The UGA Multicultural Network encourages the
University Council to adopt this proposal in an effort to infuse material
on cultural diversity in undergraduate programs at the University of
Georgia. As part of the mission to promote the formation of alliances
which support the creation of a culturally inclusive environment and
advocacy for the implementation of policies and practices that promote
multiculturalism, the UGA Multicultural Network offers our continued
support in the promotion of dialogue and efforts related to diversity
issues. Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the Cultural
Diversity Curriculum Development proposal.