Published: August 21, 2008 11:05 pm         

Bradley wants task force to improve ISU enrollment

Diversity, affirmative action office also topics of new president’s first electronic newsletter

TERRE HAUTE — Just three weeks into the job, Indiana State University President Dan Bradley is calling for the creation of a special task force to improve enrollment by next fall.

He also is taking steps that emphasize the importance of affirmative action and diversity on campus.

Bradley informed the campus community of his plans in an electronic newsletter issued Thursday. He plans to issue newsletters every other week.

In response to concerns about enrollment, Bradley is calling for the creation of a special task force to develop five to 10 strategies “which we could quickly implement that will directly impact enrollment and retention for fall 2009.”

He has asked Provost Jack Maynard and Vice President John Beacon to convene the group.

Bradley has begun meeting with state leaders and legislators, and “there continues to be concern about the level of appropriation per student that Indiana State University receives, which remains higher than other state institutions,” he wrote.

“This high per capita funding is made worse by declining enrollments. Enrollment and retention remain our top priority, and while we are optimistic about the official numbers of entering freshmen this fall, there is work to be done,” he stated in the newsletter.

He asked members of the campus community to send their ideas to the group. “Improving enrollment and retention is part of everyone’s responsibilities,” he said.

Bradley said he also plans “to move quickly to address two areas of primary concern — affirmative action and diversity.”

He intends to separate the functions into two offices with a director of affirmative action and a separate director of diversity. Both will report to the president’s office.

Under the changes, the affirmative action director will report to Bradley’s office through legal affairs, “where assistance in the area of compliance will be readily available,” he wrote. “I appreciate the quick [and positive] response of the Faculty Senate administrative affairs committee and the Faculty Senate executive committee on this issue.”

The university posted the position Thursday for an internal search.

“We also will be launching a national search for the director of diversity position, which will also report to my office,” he wrote.

Diversity will be defined in a broad manner to include ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, etc., the president stated.

Currently, both affirmative action and diversity functions are part of one office, and it’s overseen by a director of affirmative action and diversity, said Teresa Exline, university spokeswoman. That director reports to human resources.

The director’s position is vacant, although there is an acting director, she said. An assistant director for diversity position also is vacant.

Exline said the idea is to separate the two “and have affirmative action aligned with legal affairs because of compliance and legal issues.”

The diversity office will recommend policies related to diversity on campus — both in the work force and student body; it also will develop programming and education to build greater awareness and understanding, Exline said.

Bradley will address these and other issues during his Sept. 9 fall address in Tilson Music Hall.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.