Despite the April 23 Associated Students of Madison vote against the proposed Diversity Plan Framework, students are still working with the draft to ensure the future implementation of enhanced diversity efforts on campus.
In 2012, the University of Wisconsin-Madison charged an Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee with creating a new diversity plan, a task that had not been addressed since the university’s Plan 2008, the previous campus diversity plan.
With the aid of campus engagement sessions and input from various shared governance groups, the committee compiled a working framework that outlined potential areas of implementation.
ASM Chair David Gardner said despite encouraging progress for change, he and other Student Council members were discouraged by the lack of a solidified campus plan.
By only establishing a “framework” of recommendations, Gardner said there is not enough strength in support of the committee’s initial charge to enact concrete changes.
“This plan needs to have teeth. It needs to really impact our campus in a way that’s clear and specific,” Gardner said.
The students’ approval of the plan hinges on the addition of seven areas ASM felt needed a place in the document, including the creation of a Diversity Plan Funding Committee to research the plan’s funding sources and establishing yearly accountability check-ins.
Without the incorporation of the proposed statements, there will not be complete approval from all shared governance bodies and the plan cannot continue on with implementation, as stated in Wisconsin law.
According to Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5), “Students shall have the primary responsibility for the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests,” and students have a voice in the ultimate approval of proposed university changes.
“Students have been pointing to the university and asking for the development of a comprehensive diversity plan,” Gardner said. “We are frustrated that it has taken them so long to develop a plan and then once we get that plan, we find that it’s incomplete and it really doesn’t address the problems that it needs to address.”
Additionally, ad hoc committee co-chair Ryan Adserias told council members both Faculty Senate and University Committee intend on accepting the document at each of their next meetings within the coming weeks and moving forward with the framework.
Gardner said ASM and the ad hoc committee are working to finalize an updated version of the plan to include student input, and said he hopes students will continue to stay involved in the ongoing process.
“I can guarantee you that this isn’t going to be dropped and that’s going to be critical,” Gardner said.
