Diversity Profile
Arkansas State University is committed to all aspects of minority recruitment and retention within its student body and its employees, both faculty and staff. As emphasized in its mission statement, A-State is dedicated to equity and diversity within a community that fosters learning and growth. The Arkansas State University Minority Retention Plan is based solidly on the mission statement of the university and the Affirmative Action policies and procedures of A-State.
Arkansas State is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff.
Traci Perrin, Affirmative Action Program Coordinator Arkansas State University PO Box 1500 State University, Arkansas 72467 Phone: (870) 972-3658 Fax: (870) 972-3040.
Diversity Award from Arkansas State University on Vimeo.
Arkansas State University is committed to all aspects of minority recruitment and retention within its student body and its employees, both faculty and staff. As emphasized in its mission statement, A-State is dedicated to equity and diversity within a community that fosters learning and growth.
The Arkansas State University Minority Retention Plan is based solidly on the mission statement of the university and the Affirmative Action policies and procedures of A-State.
The Diversity Strategic Plan, which details the university’s plan for pursuing and maintaining campus diversity, was implemented Fall 2005. The Minority Retention Plan focuses exclusively on the progress of the plan and its five strategic goals:
(1) The faculty and staff composition at Arkansas State shall reflect the demographics of the student body;
(2) Create and maintain an environment on the A-State campus that makes it a desirable place for minorities to work and develop professionally;
(3) Introduce initiatives to the campus that will encourage understanding of diversity, build support for an inclusive environment and create opportunities for diversity dialogue;
(4) Recruit, retain, and graduate larger numbers of minority students; and
(5) Effectively incorporate diversity into the curriculum.
The Office of Diversity, working in conjunction with campus partners, has implemented the Strategic Hiring Fund, the Quality Teaching Circle, Diversity Lecture Series, Monthly Diversity Panel Discussions: Difficult Dialogues, Freshman Mixer, and Brother-2-Brother and Circle of Trust.
Full-time, first-time minority students who returned to enroll during Fall 2011 was 65.5%, an increase of 3.8% over the Fall 2010 rate. The most recent six-year graduation rate for minority students was 26.5%, an increase of 5.7% over the prior year’s percentage. Since the six-year graduation rate for minority students continues to lag behind the graduate rate for all students, the university will continue to conduct in-depth analyses of minority student achievement and develop strategies to address any negative trends in this area. Arkansas State University's Office of Diversity provides faculty development and mentoring opportunities within the campus for minority faculty members. This is done through the Quality Teaching Circle and Learning Initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to promote excellence in teaching, research, and service among minority faculty members by creating positive and safe environments for faculty members to exchange ideas, receive enriching criticism, express concerns, and access a university-wide support system. Seminars average 1.5 hours.
Arkansas State provides minority faculty opportunities to pursue advanced degrees and other professional development goals. Specifically, paid sabbaticals and unpaid leave requests are available for faculty members who meet the stated qualifications.