Action Plan

Auburn University Department of Psychology
Diversity Committee Action Plan 2004-2005

1. Preliminary Plan:
   Assess the status of the clinical program regarding cultural diversity on a yearly basis
   1. Compile applicant demographic data and post on the department’s diversity web page.
   2. Review graduate syllabi for diversity topics.
   3. Compile program diversity information using the AU College of Education’s Diversity Survey for Faculty, Staff, and Students
      1. Solicit survey responses from interns
      2. Solicit survey responses from current students
      3. Compare our results to the baseline data provided by the AU College of Education Diversity Committee
2. Develop a general plan regarding how to effect change in consultation with diversity experts (e.g., Dr. Holly Stadler)

Targeted Areas for Change:

1. Teaching about cultural diversity
   1. Teaching about cultural diversity
      a. Propose to the clinical faculty that one of the Counseling Courses on Diversity [COUN 7330 (Counseling Diverse Populations) or COUN 7960 (Directed Reading: Advanced Studies in Diversity)] be required for the Clinical Psychology Doctoral curriculum.
   2. Invite Renee A. Middleton, Ph.D., an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, to a clinical faculty meeting to educate the faculty regarding the empirical content of her diversity courses.
   3. Develop a two semester Ethics/Diversity seminar for upper level students.
      1. Include all faculty members in the development of the course.
      2. Request that all clinical faculty members contribute one diversity-focused lecture that is appropriate to their clinical or research interest.
      3. Include this one credit seminar course as a required course for the Clinical Psychology Doctoral curriculum.
   4. Conduct a bi-monthly Diversity Seminar Series.
      1. Post the schedule of events on the diversity web page
      2. Circulate summary notes from the series to the faculty and students
      3. Potential speakers to include:
         1. Lisa Swanzey - Office for Students with Disabilities
         2. Dr. Becky J. Liddle – GLBT client issues
         3. Janet Saunders – Sexual Harassment
         4. Renee Middleton – Diverse clients
         5. Ginny O’Leary – Women’s issues in Psychology
         6. Mary Burkhart - Ageism
2. Recruitment and Retention of racial/ethnic minorities
   1. Recruitment of minority faculty
      1. Add faculty-related diversity information to the department web page.
      2. Network at conferences focusing on minority groups of psychologists
      3. Increase job advertising to special sections/divisions on diversity in professional organizations.
   2. Retention of minority faculty
      1. Foster mentor-mentee relationships
      2. Participation in the AU minority faculty organization
   3. Recruitment of minority graduate students
      1. Add student-related diversity information to the department web page (e.g., research topics)
      2. Advertise department offerings at local job fairs, Black Student Organization meetings, the AU CDRR, and HBCUs.
      3. Contact Jeff Cassisi about the consortium of universities that will target promising undergraduates of color for mentoring by faculty to prepare and encourage these students to be applying to doctoral-level clinical programs.
      4. Network at relevant conferences (e.g., American Black Psychology Conference 8/2004).
      5. Develop a recruitment protocol (including a calendar)
   4. Retention of minority graduate students
      1. Younger-older grad student mentor relationship
      2. Secure funding (PGOP)
      3. Create a counselor program for foreign students in conjunction with counseling department.
   5. Retention of minority undergraduate students
      1. Establish a Mentor Program
      2. Establish a Minority Fellow Program

Questions about this page
Last updated on May 10, 2004