Eastern’s rate of employment of women and minority faculty has increased over the last decade.

While there is no state average, Eastern employs 11 percent of tenured or tenure-track faculty, said Cynthia Nichols, director of the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity.

“Each year, of course, the composition of the newly-employed faculty varies,” she said. “It depends upon the number of positions being filled and the applicant pools.”

Of new faculty members, 22 percent, or five of 23 hired, identified themselves as minority groups during the last hiring cycle.

Nichols said 61 percent were women.

Diversity early in the hiring process.

“The key factor, in my opinion, is very active recruiting and networking by department chairpersons and faculty search committees,” Nichols said. “It is important that students attend faculty interviews and share their perceptions about the finalists.

“Most departments encourage this participation.”

The issue was discussed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education last Tuesday.

The board reviewed a study of faculty diversity, finding a varied group of instructors “enhances the education of all students and better prepares students to work and live in an increasingly diverse world,” according to a proposal to the board.

The study, Strategies for Improving Faculty Diversity in Illinois Higher Education, suggests

SEE DIVERSITY u Page 7

increasing diversity by improving the campus atmosphere, search processes and accountability.

Eastern is comparable to other state universities in hiring minority faculty, said interim President Lou Hencken.

As minority enrollment increases, so should faculty minority employment, he said.

However, the study found the two were not similar.

“This level of representation is much lower than the diversity found in Illinois’ student enrollment and state population.”

Of all faculty at Illinois colleges and universities, 5 percent are African American and 2 percent are Latino.

Tuesday’s board discussion was sparked by the Committee on Access and Diversity and a 2001 study of student diversity.

Former Gov. George Ryan also asked for a study on faculty diversity, said Don Sevener, IBHE spokesman.

“Those two things came together at the same time.”

IBHE members will bring back further suggestions on diversity to the August board meeting.

“We’re going to hear from the campuses and other organizations on campus,” Sevener said.

On this campus, minority faculty are treated fairly, Nichols said.

“Eastern members of minority groups are awarded tenure and are promoted in rank at rates equal to nonminority faculty members.”