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2001 SESSION

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SB 1132 Diversity of employees and cultural diversity competency policies.

Introduced by: Henry L. Marsh III | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Diversity of employees of local school boards and institutions of higher education. Requires the Board of Education, local school boards, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the Board for Community Colleges to promote racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity among the employees of the local school divisions and the institutions of higher education. Each of these entities must establish guidelines for cultural diversity policies to (i) prepare students to live and participate effectively in a global community and an increasingly pluralistic society; (ii) facilitate racial harmony and tolerance; (iii) reduce barriers among individuals of different races and cultures through meaningful interaction; (iv) improve campus climate, student retention, and the academic performance of students; (v) contribute to the robust exchange of ideas; (vi) reinforce the principle of the worth and value of all human beings; and (vi) increase the representation of minority persons in positions in which they have been traditionally underrepresented. The Board of Education and the State Council of Higher Education are also required to identify best practices within and without Virginia. The State Council of Higher Education's authority to provide advisory services regarding specific matters to certain private, accredited and nonprofit institutions of higher education has been broadened to include advisory services concerning cultural diversity policies. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Access and Diversity in Higher Education.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Diversity of employees and cultural diversity competency policies among local school boards and public institutions of higher education. Requires the Board of Education, local school boards, the State Board for Community Colleges, and the board of visitors of public four-year institutions of higher education to promote racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity among their respective employees, and establish cultural diversity competency policies to (i) prepare students to live and participate effectively in a global community and an increasingly pluralistic society; (ii) facilitate racial harmony and tolerance; (iii) reduce barriers among individuals of different races and cultures through meaningful interaction; (iv) improve campus climate, student retention, and the academic performance of students; (v) contribute to the robust exchange of ideas; (vi) reinforce the principle of the worth and value of all human beings; and (vi) increase the representation of minority teachers, administrators, faculty and staff, and other employees in the public schools and institutions of higher education, particularly in positions in which minority persons have been traditionally underrepresented. The Board of Education and the State Council of Higher Education are required to develop guidelines and model policies regarding cultural diversity competency to assist school boards, community colleges, and public four-year institutions of higher education in implementing similar policies. The State Council of Higher Education's authority to provide advisory services regarding specific matters to certain private, accredited and nonprofit institutions of higher education has been broadened to include advisory services concerning cultural diversity competency policies. The Board of Education and the State Council of Higher Education must develop, in consultation with the Office of Attorney General, strategies within constitutional principles that may be used by school boards, community colleges, and public four-year institutions of higher education to promote greater diversity among their respective employees, and to increase the representation of minority persons in positions in which they have been traditionally underrepresented. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Access and Diversity in Higher Education.