University of Colorado Student Union

Legislative Council

 

October 1, 2008                                            69LCB6-Equity in Education

 

Sponsored by:                                  Ryan Biehle                          Tri-Executive

                                                            Josh Childs                           Senator

                                                            Dustin Farivar                       Tri-Executive

                                                            Victoria Garcia                      Tri-Executive

                                                            Rasheed Lawal        Representative-at-Large

Dan Omasta              Representative-at-Large

                                                            Christine Thai                       Senator

                                                            Neal Walia                Representative-at-Large

                                                           

 

Authored by:                                     Amie Ha                   Representative-at-Large

 

Equity in Education

 

Bill History

 

To correctly define equity in education, it is important to have historical context for the issues that the Legislative Council will discuss.  Improving diversity and equity on campus is central to both the University of Colorado Student Union and University of Colorado mission.  Often, the terms ‘diversity’ and ‘equity in education’ are used without proper understanding of their contextual definitions.

 

 

 

Bill Summary

 

This bill provides a working definition of essential terms to help fulfill the UCSU and University mission of ensuring diversity and equity in education as those terms pertain to the University of Colorado and to UCSU’s [Student Affairs] mission and dimensions of credibility.  It seeks to establish a common understanding of what each term means, in an effort to better apply them in our service to students. 

 

 

Whereas: Equity in education arose out of a system that condoned injustice against women and people of color and others in the form of slavery, segregation, exclusion from voting, and other political processes, such as employment and educational discrimination, among many others; and

 

Whereas: Equity in education remedies such past discrimination against women and people of color by removing barriers from admission to educational and business institutions, which have become inherently institutionalized in a 200 year-old system; and

 

Whereas: Equity in education is not a quota system or a system of handouts to under-qualified persons. It takes the practical form in university of widening recruitment and retention strategies and applicant pools through targeted outreach efforts; and

 

Whereas: Equity in education neither guarantees a position nor gives preferences to a particular applicant to an educational and/or business institution, but rather, provides opportunities to all qualified applicants; and

 

Whereas: Diversity, as a term and a concept, is defined as a difference of eight social group identities, which includes race, age, socioeconomic status, all genders, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and national origin/status, as well as the additional group of ethnicity; and

 

Whereas: The inclusion of subordinated groups within the eight social groups identified in the term ‘diversity’ is what promotes and fosters diversity and an inclusive culture.

 

 

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

 

Section 1: The University of Colorado Student Union hereby supports equity in education in order to support students.

 

Section 2: The University of Colorado Student Union hereby adheres to and supports the [Student Affairs] definition of diversity as the term incorporates eight social group identities of race, age, socioeconomic status, all genders, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and national origin/status, as well as ethnicity.

 

Section 3: The University of Colorado Student Union hereby upholds the credibility of the University of Colorado and its “commitment to build a just and equitable world for all people” through defining these terms as such.

 

Section 4: The University of Colorado Student Union encourages the University of Colorado upper administration and student body population to have a better understanding of the terms ‘diversity’ and ‘equity in education’.

 

Section 5: The University of Colorado Student Union supports the Chancellor and upper administration officials in their efforts to increase and foster diversity on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus and to use these outlined definitions in policy considerations and in reporting diversity on campus.

 

Section 6: Upon passage, the definitions of ‘diversity’ and ‘equity in education’ shall go into immediate effect in number seven of Flagship 2030’s Core Initiatives. The Core Initiative is “Learning for a Diverse World. Implement new strategies for improving diversity; foster a supportive and inclusive climate for all”.

 

Section 7: Upon passage, this bill shall be distributed to the Board of Regents, Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Provost, Deans, and the public through standard media.

 

 

 

 

Vote Count

10/2/08                                   Passed                         Acclamation

10/9/08                                   Passed                         Acclamation

 

 

 

________________________                                    _______________________

Blaine Pellicore                                                              Ryan Biehle

Legislative Council President                                     Tri-Executive

 

 

 

 

_______________________                                      _______________________

Dustin Farivar                                                                Victoria Garcia

Tri-Executive                                                                   Tri-Executive