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