November 13, 2007

Purdue Housing and Food Services wins national diversity award

The National Association of College Auxiliary Services awarded the university the 2007 Golden Award for the Promoting Unity through Diversity program that includes diversity training for all new employees. It also includes Spanish-language training for supervisors and support staff and a multicultural Web site that includes a calendar of all HFS and university events addressing diversity issues.

Brenda Coulson, HFS director of human resources and cultural programs, was part of a team of three people selected to present Purdue's award-winning diversity initiatives to representatives from hundreds of other North American universities at the NACAS 2007 annual conference in Las Vegas. Coulson also has co-authored an article about HFS diversity initiatives that will be featured in an upcoming edition of the association's magazine College Services.

"With students from more than 130 countries, Purdue has become a crossroads of the world," Coulson said. "HFS has worked hard to make our organization a welcoming home for students and an inclusive work environment for staff, which includes members from 16 foreign countries."

Housing and Food Services made "respecting diversity" a minimum requirement for all job descriptions. Supervisors and recruiters now attend job fairs targeted toward underrepresented groups and have developed relationships with local minority organizations to promote Purdue as a potential employer. The percentage of new minority employees hired has more than doubled since the program was launched in 2004.

When Promoting Unity through Diversity was created, John A. Sautter, vice president for housing and food services, authorized funding for cultural program staff positions to run many of the programs.

"These staff members continue to provide a positive and lasting impact on our organization through innovative diversity programs," Sautter said. "I credit them for assisting our leadership team in becoming diversity leaders for the entire campus community."

Purdue Housing and Food Services also has developed a number of programs to increase retention of underrepresented groups, including workplace English instruction for employees for whom English is a second language, citizenship and immigration law training, and performance appraisals that reward employees who foster a climate of inclusion. Minority employee retention is up by almost 20 percent since the program was launched.

"Promoting Unity through Diversity represents a significant commitment from the HFS division at Purdue," said James Foster, University Residences diversity and community coordinator. "The program gives me reason to think that there are many who sincerely want to continue to develop a welcoming and caring climate for all."

Purdue Housing and Food Services employs 800 full-time staff, 270 resident assistants and 1,300 students and enhances the campus experience with its Purdue Memorial Union building offerings and activities, Hall of Music events, and campus cable television services. Its University Residences division houses nearly 12,000 students on campus, making it the largest on-campus housing service in the country where participation is voluntary for all students.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: John A. Sautter, (765) 494-1022, jasautter@purdue.edu

Brenda Coulson, (765) 494-0603, bcoulson@purdue.edu

James Foster, (765)494-1033, jjfoster@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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