Contact: Chris Chesrown
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April 30, 2001

Maricopa Community Colleges Establish Relationship with Howard University to Achieve Even Greater Diversity in Faculty Ranks

Greater Phoenix, Az - The Maricopa Community Colleges enjoy a great ethnic diversity among their student populations and do much to promote an inter-cultural awareness and understanding among their Hispanic, African-American, Native American, Asian and Anglo student populations. Cultural diversity committees on each of the ten campuses actively plan awareness and understanding activities almost on a monthly basis. Diverse groups are represented in faculty, staff and administrative ranks. Even though administration, faculty and staff reflect the multi-ethnic and other diverse groups, Chancellor Fred Gaskin and the Governing Board have taken positive steps to achieve an even greater representation of diverse groups to reflect the diversity of the student populations.

The Governing Board of the Maricopa Community Colleges recently adopted a diversity goal that states: "Students will be served by faculty and staff who reflect the communities we serve and who create an environment of equity and mutual respect of each person."

In part, this goal is being implemented by a unique faculty recruitment relationship with Howard University, Washington, DC.

Maricopa Community Colleges' Chancellor Fred Gaskin said "This visit was conducted as part of a faculty recruiting strategy promoted by the Governing Board to ensure that the new faculty Maricopa hires will continue to be the best and the brightest and as diverse as the students in our colleges. Although the primary emphasis of our visit with Howard was to recruit faculty, we did discuss administrative and staff positions as well."

Dr. Don Campbell, President of the Governing Board, said "This recruitment effort is also unique because our approach includes board members, top level management and faculty. We are all a part of making the Governing Board goal a reality."

The Maricopans who visited Howard University included Dr. Fred Gaskin, Chancellor; Dr. Don Campbell, President of the Governing Board; Mrs. Linda B. Rosenthal, Governing Board member; Ms. Donna Schober, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor; Dr. Jose Leyba, Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and faculty members, Dr. Vanessa Wilson-Ford, Mesa Community College; Mr.Wilbert Nelson, Phoenix College and Dr. Carnella Hardin, Glendale Community College.

Dr. Jose Leyba said, "The initial meeting with Howard University began what we believe will be a long term relationship with Howard University. We are pleased with the reception we received from Howard. We have received invitations to attend their career fairs and are working with their deans of students and advisors to identify lower division students who may be interested in careers within our community college district.

Mrs. Linda B. Rosenthal, Governing Board member, explained that while the establishment of the relationship is a strategy to "attract quality faculty and achieve the diversity among our faculty that mirrors our student populations. Our Board recognizes that our diverse student populations are not similarly represented by a diverse faculty and staff. Arizona, and particularly Maricopa County, will see a great increase in African-American, Hispanic, Asian and other ethnic groups during the next decade or two. We feel it is absolutely incumbent on us as a Board and as the nation's largest community college district to take proactive recruitment actions now."

During the time at Howard University, the Maricopa group had an opportunity for informal conversations with students and hosted an information reception for Howard University students and administrators where literature about the Maricopa Community Colleges was distributed. Maricopa faculty member Dr. Carnella Hardin said, "The students were very enthusiastic about the possibilities for employment in Arizona. Those who attended the reception expressed an interest in knowing more about the Maricopa Community Colleges."

Dr. Vanessa Wilson-Ford agreed with her colleague. "This experience was a wonderful opportunity to dialogue with students about their dreams, their hopes and plans for the future. Many of the students eagerly listened as we shared our experiences about being an African-American in Arizona. My interaction with the students made me feel like I was 'home.' There was a connection with the students - one of familiarity that seemed to create a bond. Since my return from Howard University, several of the students have continued to communicate with me through email. "

Another Maricopa faculty member, Mr. Wilbert Nelson, saw another advantage to the relationship with Howard. "This effort offers the potential to provide African-American students and any other student the possibility of attending a historically black university. The development and the implementation of a transfer agreement will offer many of those who choose to take advantage of our effort an educational experience that will be worth a lifetime. For example, Xavier University in the last year or so has sent 70 African-American students to medical schools. This is more than some of the prominent schools such as Harvard. It is this type of educational development that activates the phrase 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste.' The potential of the community college experience combined with the opportunities of a Howard University has no limits."

Dr. Leyba said that the Maricopa Community Colleges were invited to attend a Howard University Career Fair. He and Wilbert Nelson attended one of the career fairs in April and said, "We were very pleased with the enthusiastic response we had from Howard University students and we most certainly plan to attend other future events." In addition, Howard University along with Arizona State University (Tempe) are participating in the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) for colleges program. Currently Leyba is in the process of developing the partnership with ASU and has plans to expand it to Howard University.

Dr. Belinda Watkins, Acting Dean of Student Life and Activities, Howard University, said that the reaction of Howard University students "who were interested in the faculty recruitment program presented by Maricopa Community Colleges has been very positive. It has provided exposure to what appears to be excellent career opportunities at locations they may not have considered. The staff from Maricopa who visited at Howard were very diverse and personable and I believe that was also a plus in the recruitment efforts."

Howard University serves about 12,000 students annually. It was founded in 1867 to provide education for newly emancipated slaves. Although predominantly an African-American university, it has always been open to all qualified students. The students are enrolled in 18 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. The University offers master's degrees in more than 85 areas and doctoral degrees in 24 fields.

The Maricopa County Community College District, the nation's largest community college district, is composed of 10 community colleges, several satellite campuses, skill centers and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu

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March 13, 2002