Office of Equity and Access

Call for Proposals

The Equity and Access Committee has identified funds that are available on a one-time-only basis for programming or initiatives that support Goal 4 of the University Plan.  One-time-only funds will be allocated for programs and/or activities that involve and impact the largest number of students, faculty, and staff in FY 2014.  It is the responsibility of the individuals requesting funds to provide as much information as possible when seeking support.  In addition, supporting materials should be attached to all requests to better define activities, functions, or programs.  Below, please find specific criteria, which should be reviewed prior to submitting requests.

This request is primarily for proposals for events that will take place in Fall 2013.  For more information please visit us at www.txstate.edu/oea.

Deadline(s) for Submission

In order to facilitate planning and programming, the committee will review requests that are received by 5:00 p.m. on April 22, 2013, without exception.

Individuals, departments, offices or student/university organizations interested in submitting funding proposals for Fall 2013 must use the One-Time-only Funding Request Form attached below.  Forms and related materials must be submitted electronically to the Equity and Access Committee c/o Dr. Herman Horn at equityaccess@txstate.edu.  Dr. Horn will notify all funding requesters following the committee’s final funding decisions.  Funds must be expended by August 31, 2014.  Allocated funds not spent by this date will be returned to the Equity and Access Committee.  Please contact Cynthia Prado at the Office of Equity and Access at 512.245.2539 for further information.

Eligibility & Requirements

·      All requests must be sponsored by an office/department, or officially recognized university organization.  Requests from student organizations must have the signature of the official faculty or staff sponsor that is on file with the Campus Activities and Student Organizations Office.  Additionally, such requests must represent “partnerships” with other offices/departments, organizations, etc. and the co-sponsor must also sign the request.
 
·      NEW Activities supported last year by the Equity and Access Committee will not be considered.
 
·      All requests must follow the guidelines provided in the One-Time-only Funding Request Form.  Failure to do so may result in a non-recommendation for funding by the committee.
 
·      Priority will be given to requests that demonstrate ability to impact the largest audience.  Preference will be given to those proposals that include matching funds (grants, donations, use of volunteers and other in-kind contributions) and plans for continuation of activities after the start-up funding from the grant has been expended.
 
·      Requests must relate directly to the intended outcomes of Goal 4 of the University Plan:

Goal 4: Enrich our learning and working environment by attracting and supporting a more diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
 
4.1     Attract and retain a diverse faculty and staff.
4.2     Remain a Hispanic Service Institution through increased focus on student success
and related research.
4.3     Enhance recruitment, retention, and support programs for all racial, ethnic, and
international groups. Annually, Texas State will demonstrate an:
4.4     Expand efforts to promote diversity and inclusion among all faculty, staff, and
students.
4.5     Seek historically underutilized business suppliers.
 
·      Award recipients must submit a final report form to the Office of Equity and Access detailing
budget expenditures and project outcomes including success of the project within 30 work days after the funded project has concluded.  Failure to submit this form will be a factor in any future funding request.
 
 
Questions and Additional Information to Consider
 
The Equity and Access Committee offers the following additional information to assist applicants in preparing proposals:
 

• Marketing:
  • How will recruiting projects, i.e., conferences, bring people to Texas State and also serve as an event to recruit students?
  • How will retention initiatives foster an environment that supports and embraces diversity?
  • Will the project be at multiple locations?

• Collaboration:
  • Are letters or other documents of commitments from other project partners included?
  • What specific efforts have been made or are planned for collaboration?
  • Does the project have diverse collaboration (i.e., bringing different groups together)?

• Self-sustaining:
  • Do those continuing projects demonstrate striving towards being self-sustaining with these funds serving as start-up funds?

• Outreach efforts:
  • Does the proposal outline the planned efforts to achieve high participation at the scheduled events?
  • Does the proposal identify the known or anticipated size of audience/outreach, particularly the university community?

• Diversity Impact:
  • Does the project look beyond the diversity of participants and more on the impact on the diversity goals?
  • Does the project ensure that Texas State University-San Marcos will not discriminate against any person (or exclude any person from participating in or receiving the benefits of any of its activities or programs) on any basis prohibited by law, including race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex or disability, or on the basis of sexual orientation?

• Categories listed will not be considered.  Are any of these categories included in the proposal?
  • Software
  • Scholarships
  • Food
  • Conference fees
  • Registration
  • Memberships

 
 
Texas State believes that freedom of thought, innovation and creativity are fundamental characteristics of a community of scholars. To promote such a learning environment, the university has a special responsibility to seek diversity, to instill a global perspective in its students, and to nurture sensitivity, tolerance (acceptance) and mutual respect. Discrimination against or harassment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veterans’ status or disability are inconsistent with the purposes of the university.

2013 Excellence in Diversity Award
Call for Nominations

The Call for Nominees for the 2013 Excellence in Diversity Award deadline has been extended to Friday, March 29, 2013.
I’m asking for your assistance in this effort.  There are individuals doing great work in supporting the university’s diversity goals.  We need to recognize those efforts.  Please take a close look at the staff and faculty who have demonstrated their strong commitment to diversity at Texas State.
I’m specifically requesting that you make a special effort to help us recognize staff contributions.  We have received no staff nominations.
To help in determining whether to nominate staff for the award, I am providing additional information and examples of past activities that have been submitted regarding staff efforts.
Past nominees have:
 

1. Conducted or coordinated diversity related training for colleagues or students.
2. Participated in diversity-related groups.
3. Worked to recruit and retain female students (or students of another demographic) to increase diversity in a specific way.
4. Presented at the Black Men United Meeting or other similar forums.
5. Served as the Student Affairs Diversity Team co-chair.
6. Served as an advisor to Hispanic women on campus or served as advisor to other similar organizations.
    

I hope these help and I ask you to please take the extra effort to recognize our staff.

Thanks,

Herman

 
FROM:          Dr. Herman Horn
                     Chair, The Excellence in Diversity Awards Selection Committee
 
SUBJECT:      UPPS 04.04.37, The Excellence in Diversity Awards
 
The Excellence in Diversity Awards program recognizes and honors university community members for exceptional commitment to diversity at Texas State University-San Marcos by promoting the university’s diversity goals. The Diversity Awards program will recognize one faculty member and one staff member at the annual University Convocation.  Each recipient will be presented with $2,500 (less taxes) and a plaque honoring their commitment to diversity.
 
The selection committee will use the following criteria to select recipients for the Awards (see attached criteria for examples):
a.       Critical support that assists diversity in our faculty, staff or students
b.       Sustained commitment to diversity through research, programs, services, activities, new initiatives, etc.
 
The documentation which accompanies each Excellence in Diversity Nomination Form (see UPPS 04.04.37, Attachment II) should include the following:
a.       Completed nomination form, which should include reasons for the nomination and the period over which the activities have occurred
b.       Brief professional sketch of the nominee, including the nominee's present position
c.       Letters of support from colleagues, co-workers, and students (recommend no more than a total of three)
 
Recommendations to nominate faculty should be submitted to the dean of the nominee’s college by March 1, 2013.  Recommendations to nominate a staff member should be submitted to the nominee’s vice president by March 1, 2013.  The deans and vice presidents will forward all nominations to Dr. Herman Horn, Chair of the selection committee by March 19, 2013.
 
More information about the nomination process, as well as the nomination form, can be found in UPPS 04.04.37, http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-04-04-37.html.
 
Thank you for your participation in this effort to honor and recognize the importance of diversity as part of our university’s goals.

Texas State recognized as Hispanic Serving Institution

Posted by University News Service

March 24, 2011

 The U.S. Department of Education has granted Texas State University-San Marcos official recognition as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

To receive the HSI designation, an institution must have an enrollment of undergraduate full-time-equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. Texas State surpassed the 25 percent Hispanic undergraduate enrollment level in September 2010.

“We are proud that our enrollment reflects the true changing face of Texas. We have achieved this important outcome because of the efforts of many individuals across the university, and I sincerely appreciate those efforts,” said Texas State President Denise Trauth.

Achieving HSI status will mean the establishment of new goals, said Trauth.

“It has been our goal for several years to become an HSI. Now it is time we direct our efforts toward becoming the best HSI in the state,” said Trauth. “It is not enough to recruit talented students from all ethnicities – we must also continue to retain those students and see that they graduate. We will continue to deliver exceptional educational opportunities for all of our students.”

In 2010, Texas State was one of four institutions nationally cited for academic policies and programs that better serve Latino students. Texas State is the fourth – and the largest – HSI in Texas. 

The Department of Education HSI program provides grants that allow schools to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students. HSI grants also allow schools to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality and institutional stability. Texas State is now eligible to apply for grants under the HSI program. In 2010, the Department of Education awarded grants totaling more than $60 million to HSIs.

Funds may be used for scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching, construction or renovation of instructional facilities, faculty development, purchase of educational materials, academic tutoring or counseling programs, distance learning programs, teacher education, student support services and other activities and purposes.