September 12, 2008

Purdue University honors, rewards diversity efforts  

Morgan R. Olsen, Purdue executive vice president and treasurer, praised the police department for creating a diverse workplace that employs White, Latino, African-American, Native American and Asian officers. He said the department looks like the community in which it works, an important component in community policing.  

The treasurer's area created the $5,000 award to highlight and support innovative and successful diversity efforts on campus, upon recommendation of the Treasurer's Diversity Task Force. 

"We've made every effort to promote a diverse campus for students, staff and business partners," Olsen said at the award ceremony. "We need to harness and tap great ideas. So, when you see a good idea here, feel free to steal it."

The police hiring initiative narrowly edged out six other award finalists for the award. Five of the finalists were initiatives within Purdue's Housing and Food Services, including efforts to teach English to international students and staff; highlighting cultures in the dining courts through the use of food, art and music; and establishing a diversity central team responsible for creating a work environment in which diversity is promoted.

"We house and feed nearly 12,000 students from over 100 countries. Many of these students also work for us," said John A. Sautter, vice president for Housing and Food Services. "We are the embodiment of diversity, and it is something we embrace and promote vigorously."

Olsen created the task force that oversees several diversity initiatives, including providing diversity training for all new employees in departments reporting to the treasurer's office. Nearly 1,900 existing employees have received cultural awareness training. The task force also created a program for Purdue employees who have supervisory responsibilities, "Managing a Diverse Workforce," which was delivered to more than 250 managers last year.

The Executive Vice President and Treasurer Internship Program recruits diverse interns from around the nation to work in various units at Purdue. Purdue has initiated exit interviews for all employees, designed, in large part, to ensure that all have been made to feel welcome at Purdue.

"Diversity is a priority at Purdue," said Brenda Coulson, a Treasurer's Task Force member who directs Housing and Food Services' human resources and cultural programs. "And we can do even more by working together, forming partnerships, and diversifying our recruiting and employment."

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

Sources:   Morgan Olsen, (765) 494-9705, mrolsen@purdue.edu

John Sautter, (765) 494-1000, jasautter@purdue.edu

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

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

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