Recruitment
"Ursinus Seeks Diversity" brochure, 1989
This "Ursinus Seeks Diversity" brochure, distributed in 1989, contains a collection of lists and information which are specifically marketed towards students from diverse backgrounds (as stated on the second page: "For Students From Diverse Backgrounds: A Book of Lists"). The lists contain information on the school's fields of study, activities, student demographics, scholarships, and financial aid, among others. It also lists the names of the two Minority Student Advisers at the time: Ms. Jenneen A. Flamer and Mr. Anthony D.J. Brankar. The brochure was created in 1989 during President Richter's focus on recruitment and retention of students of color, and begins with the statement that Ursinus was founded 125 years ago with a provision in its Constitution that "no student shall be excluded on account of race or religion."
"Board meets on Diversity Reports" Grizzly article
This article from the March 1st, 2012 edition of the Ursinus College Grizzly newspaper announces the beginning of a retreat for the college’s Board of Trustees. At this meeting, the board plans to discuss a strategic diversity plan based on three campus diversity reports. These reports come from the Teagle Home Team, the Faculty Committee on Diversity, and the Presidential Committee on Race and Equality. There is a note from then-president Dr. Bobby Fong that the three recommendations “sometimes diverge”, and that the largest of these divergences concerns the implementation of a specific Chief Diversity Officer position (which one report suggests and the other two deem unnecessary). The report which argues for the new position asserts that the most pressing issues affecting campus diversity are those of “visibility and transparency,” and such a person would provide structure and clarity to all of the “diversity work” on campus. The article closes with the information that the Ursinus community can publicly discuss the reports after spring recess, and that Collegeville residents can contribute their ideas online. This article displays part of the back and forth discussions, particularly in 1987-1988, regarding the best ways to recruit and retain students of color.
Bridge Program Advertisement
The document gives a summary of what the Bridge Program is about and the types of students that would benefit the most from it. It explains when the students will arrive, where they will reside for the four weeks, and how all expenses will be covered. The courses offered will not only help lessen the workload for their first college semester but it will also provide an understanding to how things are run on campus, academically and socially.
Flamer Proposal and Analysis, Minority Recruitment and Retention, 1989
This is a compilation of primary sources all related to Jenneen Flamer's 1989 proposals for minority recruitment and retention. Jenneen Flamer was the Admission Counselor and Minority Student Adviser at Ursinus College in 1989. The first page is a memo from Ms. Flamer to President Richard P. Richter explaining the importance of programs which foster self-identity to make minority students more comfortable on campus. The following four pages are her extended proposal of changes to implement on campus - namely for there to be four new positions to help with minority recruitment and retention. The next page is Richard Richter's analysis of Flamer's proposal, in which he supports increasing attention towards the tasks Flamer has outlined but not the addition of specific titles or new full time positions. He asks in handwritten pen at the top of his analysis for a colleague's input. This input makes up the last page. While the author of this last analysis is unknown, he or she mainly agrees with Richter's thoughts.
Minutes of Minority Affairs Committee Meeting
A one-page typed document recounting the events of the Minority Affairs Committee's March 23, 1989 meeting. The meeting begins with a statement about the goals of the committee (to discuss matters relating to students of color at Ursinus and promote in the community "the fact that Ursinus is committed to ethnic and cultural diversity"). The specific topics covered that day included the "Ursinus Seeks Diversity" brochure, an emphasis on admissions and recruitment, means of identifying and accessing students of color in order to recruit, and the need for a revised admission statement which would include increasing the proportion of students of color as a part of the community and college-wide agenda. There is mention of the need for education campus-wide on minority issues, but not much is mentioned in the way of direct plans or deliverables.
Ursinus Board Meets on Diversity
The newspaper article details an Ursinus College board meeting in 2012 regarding diversity on campus. A report given to the board by the FDC expresses dissatisfaction with the current handling of diversity affairs on campus. It is stated in the report, that a new Ursinus Committee on diversity would help distribute responsibilities which were at the time unstructured. Also addressed is a common issue regarding diversity on campus, "visibility, and transparency." The college community was said to be allowed to address topics of the CPPC's workgroups later that semester and the Collegeville community as well. The campus discussion was held high in importance and regard to the board in making their decisions.
"Bridging The Gap"
This Ursinus Grizzly newspaper article from September 23, 1988 coincides with the release of the first official Ursinus College Bridge Program report describing and assessing the Bridge Program. The article goes on to explain what the program is and why it is significant, pointing out that “ethnic and cultural diversity has not been a hallmark of the college,” and calling the Bridge Program “one of the most innovative endeavors Ursinus has taken.” It details the courses taken by the “Bridgers” and some of the field trips and side programs as well. These included introduction to the college community, practice in the Word Processing Lab and video-taping lab, trips to the Batch Institute for Ethnic Studies in Center City, and to Eagleville Hospital for Personality Disorders (as the main course taught was introductory Psychology). The article finishes on a positive note, mentioning the contentedness of the students who participated and plans from the administration to expand funding for the following year.
Minority Student Affairs Memorandum
Richard Richter memos the Senior Staff about his recent hiring of two black faculty members and a recruitment counselor in the Admissions Office for their plans to create the Bridge Program. This memo exhibits the progress being made on a strategic approach to having a more culturally diverse campus. Richter suggests questions for everyone to ask themselves about the sole purpose of the program and if the college has all the materials needed to properly handle any social and academic matter involving minority students. This is to pull together the right people and resources together so the program can smoothly go into motion.