Retention
Ursinus College Minority Student Union Constitution
These two typed pages are the constitution drawn up for the Minority Students Union. Although it is undated it was pulled from the Ursinusiana archives from a folder labeled 1987/1988 so can be tentatively dated to that general timeline. The constitution includes description of the organization's purpose - to foster a sense of awareness and serve as a support system and unifying body, as well as information about officer roles and duties, voting, and meeting plans. Another specific function of the organization and officers is to promote cultural programming on campus. The organization is open to any member of the college community.
"Strategic Approaches to Multiculturalism in Higher Education"
A one-page typed document encouraging the school to adapt new strategies for minorities to be able to obtain a higher education. The document begins with exhibiting the effects of having a diverse strategic approach influenced by a conference at Villanova University attended by the contributors of this document. The document brings up the suggestion of having a three-credit course that deals with racism. There should also be a new faculty member to take the role of a Minority Adviser to head up this new approach to a more diverse campus. This is an important position because it will not only help with working exclusively with students of color but also as a push for student programs to mature and evolve in a respecting and appreciating the merit of diversity on campus.
Ursinus Joins the National Minority Faculty Identification Program
This is a series of primary sources documenting the college's joining of The Chronicle of Higher Education's Minority Faculty Vita Bank, and related documents explaining and describing exactly what that means. The first document is a one-page letter from the Director of the National Minority Faculty Identification Program, Dr. William B. Jones, dated August 5th, 1987. The letter is to then-president Richard P. Richter inviting Ursinus College to join the program and explaining the program’s function. The program is a “computerized minority faculty databank for member institutions,” offering lists of candidates and access to resumes. Dr. Jones also mentions that participating institutions will be listed in an advertisement in The Chronicle of Higher Education so long as they join by a certain date. The following document is a handwritten note from August 10th, addressed to President Richter (“RPR”) explaining that Ursinus has decided to join, and referring to “attached” for more information. The “attached” consists of the next three pages - one pulled from the January 7, 1987 Chronicle list of Minority Faculty Vita Bank, and the next two listing information about the program (number of participants, demographics, statistics on the types of degrees, etc.).
Ursinus College Library Holdings in African-American Studies, 1990
This is a one-page memo and one-page attachment from President Richard Richter to Yvette Dennis and Audrey Wade on April 2nd of 1990 regarding the college's library holdings in African-American Studies and plans to increase these holdings. The letter is an update on Richter's meeting with Charles Jamison (Library Director) on the subject and an invitation to meet the recipients to discuss the subject further. The report drawn up by Charles Jamison outlines the 704 titles currently held as well as plans in the future to order new editions of key African-American Studies texts and a commitment to prioritize this area of collection. This effort coincides with many others under President Richter's administration to increase the college's attractiveness for African American students and other students of color.