VP seeks to create inclusive campus

When Jesus Trevino took a job at the University of Denver in 2002, students of color represented 11 percent of the entire student body. By the time Trevino left his position as the university’s Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence this summer, students of color represented 20 percent of the university’s enrollment.

Trevino said he credits the change in population diversity at Denver to the institution’s efforts to create an environment of inclusive excellence – efforts he proposed during his tenure at the university.

“The climate for the institution has changed so that people feel comfortable coming to campus,” Trevino said. “They don’t say ‘what’s going to happen to me?’ (People) are pleasantly surprised that while (Denver) is a private institution, there are people of color there and you can see them.”

As USD’s new Associate Vice President for Diversity, Trevino plans to implement the same strategy of inclusive excellence at USD.  He said inclusive excellence is a broad-based platform that is not limited only to administration or the student population.

“Inclusive excellence is a transformation of the University of South Dakota into an institution that embeds diversity and inclusiveness into everything it does,” he said.

The university must practice diversity and inclusiveness in all of its functions, including matters of policy, hiring practices, curriculum, business conduct and programming, Trevino said.

“When you’re putting together Mr. and Ms. Dakota, you should try to recruit diverse candidates,” he said. “It’s one thing to advertise (a search for candidates). It’s another thing for the committee chair to tell everyone about the search they are doing but in particular tell them to search for someone with a diverse background.”

Trevino stressed the important role that students must play in order to create an inclusive campus. The underrepresented student populations must form organizations in order to gain relevancy and promote awareness about its members. Trevino cited the recently-formed African-American student organization as an example of student involvement.

“We need to start one for Latinos, we need to start one for Asian Americans – that’s the beginning point,” Trevino said. “This is the refuge that these students will use to feel comfortable, so from there they will be comfortable to venture out. We will tell them, ‘Please join the Asian-American student club, but also join other student organizations, too.”

Taylor Moore, a senior at USD, has played a crucial role in the development of the Union of African American students and explained the purpose of the new group on campus.

“The premise is within the name. It is a group recognizing African American’s on campus. Basically, we want to create a multicultural dialogue,” Moore said.

While the organization was re-established to increase awareness and representation for African American students, Moore said the group is striving to practice inclusiveness.

“We obviously know are an underrepresented population in South Dakota and at USD but we want to show people who we are and what we are about,” Moore said. “We want to create a venue where everyone is comfortable to learn about our culture. Everyone is welcome.”

Moore said Tiospaye, the Native American group, has expressed interest in collaborating for future activities and projects. “It’s definitely a goal to work with them in the future,” Moore said.

The Rapid City Journal reported Oct. 2 that South Dakota State University was investigating a racial harassment in a dormitory. Trevino said USD must be prepared to show sensitivity to similar incidents that could occur on its own campus.

“We have to think about who is impacted by this and how we can send them a message,” Trevino said. “The student government could hold a rally to show that this behavior is unacceptable. The administration could also send an open letter to the community stating that we disagree with this.”

Trevino said he has been impressed by how eager everyone on campus have been to make USD an all-encompassing environment.

“Students are already very willing to cross lines and support each other,” Trevino said. “At the University of Denver, it took about a year and a half of training before students understood the idea of supporting each other by going to each other’s meetings, etc. Here there is already a willingness. For instance, the Native American organization has told me they want to forge links with the new African American club and anyone else who wants to be involved.”

Trevino said he is encouraged by the support the department has received and is optimistic in his goal of creating a diverse, comprehensive campus environment.

“We want to do it (diversity), but we don’t know how to do it,” Trevino said. “Once you show people how to do it, they will do it. It’s bringing in new ideas. Inclusive excellence is a new idea. I’m hoping the campus will embrace it and then we will start to practice it because there will a practice behind it; there will be action

behind it.”