NEWS

President's Statements on Diversity
Mo's Highlights Reel
By Jennifer Eagan

I searched documents and speeches made by President Mo, so these are his own words. The word that I searched for were “multicultural, diverse/ diversity, equal/ equity, race, and gender”. Here’s what popped up:

“The Department of Social Work, Masters Degree Program, has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education for 2003-10. This program received special recognition for its diverse faculty and curriculum representing a multicultural perspective including social justice and social change. This exemplary program is another example of the University responding quickly to meet an identified community need for well prepared social workers.”

“Coming from a modest working-class family, I experienced, first hand, the power of higher education to profoundly transform an individual's life. I deeply value and embrace the multicultural nature of the community that we serve and the quality education we offer our students. And I am committed to pluralism that recognizes and celebrates differences. I have been a strong advocate for quality instruction, faculty governance and service, intellectual discovery and scholarly work- and the joy and intrinsic reward it brings to the participant. I embrace the academic mission of the University and the democratic value system in which it is rooted.”

“Finally, I wish to speak about our third top priority: increasing tenured-track faculty. It would be hard to overemphasize the importance and the pivotal role of tenured-track faculty in the health of the University. Our faculty members not only deliver on the university's mission, they are also the measurement by which our quality is most often judged. I am glad to see that 42 new tenure-track faculty joined the University this past academic year. The colleges are planning to recruit for an additional 30 tenure-track positions, this year. Together, these trends emphasize our commitment to mission and quality academic programs. As we recruit new tenure-track faculty we should try to increase our outreach efforts in hiring practices to attract diverse pools of qualified applicants that reflect the population of the region we serve.”

“Public engagement. Let me briefly address our Regional Stewardship and Public Engagement. State universities have long served as vehicles to accomplish broader social and economic objectives. As a regional public university, we have a unique responsibility - and an opportunity - to help address the many needs of the Bay Area in general and the East Bay in particular. The East Bay is home to a diverse population that is dynamic, growing, and changing. As a result, our region faces complex challenges ranging from housing, employment, and transportation to education, economic opportunity, and multicultural inclusion. To help solve these issues, CSUEB must go beyond a mere commitment to regional service to one of leadership, embracing our role as a regional steward with new programs, expanded reach, and growing involvement in the lives - and the futures - of the communities we serve.”

“As we continue our dialogue about our shared vision, we should imagine a vibrant future. Let us imagine new heights that will be the distinguishing features of CSU East Bay; elements that will elevate the University as the crown jewel of the CSU, the pride of the East Bay, and a destination university that enables all students to realize their full potential. In other words, a university that will be a model of excellence in higher education distinguished by its academic programs, commitment to life-long learning, and engaged in the well-being of our community. Finally, let us become a university that celebrates its multicultural diversity, builds on its diversity as a key strategic strength that prepares students to acquire relevant and sought after skills and knowledge, and most importantly their degrees.”

University Convocation Address, 2006, September, 25, 2006
http://theview.csueastbay.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=833&Itemid=75

“IMAGINE CSUEB as a crown jewel of the CSU, the pride of the East Bay, and a destination university recognized for the academically rich, multicultural learning experience it offers - enabling students of all backgrounds to discover, develop, and realize their full personal and professional potential …

IMAGINE CSUEB embracing, celebrating, and building strategically upon a key strength - its multicultural diversity - diversity to recruit new students, attract distinguished faculty, develop and empower outstanding staff, and cultivate support among new friends and donors.”

From “Imagining New Possibilities for CSUEB”
The View, July 3, 2006
http://theview.csueastbay.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=691&Itemid=76

This is also the welcome message on the Office of the President site:
http://www.csueastbay.edu/about/president/index.html

“We recognize that for Cal State East Bay to succeed not only requires increased visibility and awareness, but also a strengthened foundation of respect and value in the communities we serve. At the same time, as a state university, we realize that we have a responsibility - and an opportunity - to help meet the needs of our region, ranging from employment and work force preparation to education, economic opportunity, and multicultural inclusion. To do so, CSUEB must embrace its role as a regional steward with new ideas, new programs and expanded outreach. As more than one town hall meeting participant expressed, we must "make our name real" and deliver on the commitment it evokes.”

From “When CSUEB reaches, The East Bay responds”
The View, February 2, 2007
http://theview.csueastbay.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1099&Itemid=76

“An inclusive campus climate that fosters multicultural learning and competence. We value and insist upon a campus climate characterized by a welcoming, inclusive, and caring atmosphere, responsive to the unique needs of all community members and where multicultural competence and learning experiences infuse our curriculum, policies and practices.

From “Next steps for a new CSUEB”
The View, December 8, 2006
http://theview.csueastbay.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=986&Itemid=76

The search words appeared in 3 of 10 of Mo’s articles in The View.
The search terms “equal/ equity, race, and gender” did not appear.
These are all of the documents authored by Mo that are linked to the Office of the President website (at least as far as I could tell).