Submissions deadline nears for Diversity Transformation Award ideas
October 7, 2015
Submissions from West Lafayette faculty principal investigators for the Diversity Transformation Award Program are still being accepted. The deadline for abstracts is Friday (Oct. 9), and PowerPoint presentations are due Oct. 14. Round 1 presentations will be on Oct. 19.
The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Team reports that the response so far has been good, but the team would like to see more.
The goals of the DTA program are to enhance campus diversity by increasing the enrollment and success of undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented minority (URM) populations, increase the representation of underrepresented minorities within the faculty ranks, and leverage the research talent on campus to create a nationally recognized center of activity in studying factors affecting inclusiveness and success of underrepresented minority students and faculty.
Nationally, many people see a pressing need in higher education to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities, such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Americans with disabilities, and first-generation college students. "Having a campus demographic that is diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status enhances the university experience for everyone," says Venetria Patton, a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Team.
To that end, the DTA program is a critically important initiative in which the Provost's Office will invest $1,000,000, expecting to fund five to eight proposals for a period of two years, nominally at a level up to $150,000 per project. Awards in excess of this amount may be requested for projects with the potential for exceptional impact.
The preparation and submission process is simple and does not involve writing a formal proposal. To participate, go to the DTA website and follow the "Submit Proposal" link. Submitters will be asked to enter:
* Their name (as PI), title, and contact information.
* A proposal title and team members' names and contact information.
* A 100-word abstract.
* Availability to present the proposal (with a PowerPoint) to a University panel. A template is provided.
* Certification that the relevant college dean has approved the submission. This is to ensure that the college is informed of the project and is supportive of the proposed activities. Deans are prepared to review abstracts and respond to requests for approval.
More details are provided at the DTA website or questions may be directed to members of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Team in the Office of the Provost at DTAprogram@purdue.edu.
