The former Office of Affirmative Action and Services at the University of Colorado at Â鶹¹ÙÍø has been merged with the campus' new Office of Diversity and Equity, effective May 1.
The Office of Diversity and Equity, headed by Ofelia Miramontes, interim associate vice chancellor for diversity, is charged with providing leadership and direction for campus diversity activities. Within the new organization, Affirmative Action and Services will be called the Department of Equity and Access.
"The integration of the Department of Equity and Access into our office will allow for an expansion of services and greater focus on the important and broader university commitment to diversity," Miramontes said.
The department will continue to be directed by Garnett Tatum, who has led the campus' affirmative action program for 12 years. In addition to working on new diversity initiatives in coordination with Miramontes, Tatum and his staff will continue to support faculty and staff search processes and serve as a resource for information about fair employment practices.
The department also oversees compliance issues in such areas as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX. The group will continue to process and investigate discrimination grievances.
"I am excited about the opportunity to work with the well-established and committed staff of the new Department of Equity and Access," Miramontes said. "I look forward to the enhanced level of support and services we will be able to provide to the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø community around the important issue of diversity."
Miramontes noted that the creation of the new Office of Diversity and Equity is "a concrete demonstration of CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø's commitment to substantive representation of underrepresented groups on campus. The campus also is committed to a diverse community in which people value individual and group differences, as well as open communication and respect for different points of view."
The Diversity and Equity Office will focus on coordination, enhancement and monitoring of campus diversity initiatives and dissemination of information. Miramontes said these efforts will be achieved in cooperation with various university divisions, schools and colleges.
She noted that the campus already has initiated a number of programs directed to the recruitment and retention of students of color and strengthening campus services for underrepresented groups.