University mirrors 'real world' concerns

No campus is an island unto itself -- and Penn State is no exception.

As the diversity of people, backgrounds and experiences on campus continue to grow and expand, the University will have to put more effort into addressing concerns that face the world such as prejudice, poverty and ethnic identity, said Grace Hampton, executive assistant to the provost for the development of the arts.

"When you put this mix together, you will feel that some of the issues that are in the broader arena come to Penn State," she said. "Penn State is part of the global society that we predicted for the future. The future is here now."

As the issues facing multicultural campuses grow beyond the 'black vs. white' problems of the past, Hampton said the University community will continue to encounter problems that mirror the real world issues of interdependence.

"There are parts that each of us brings to the table for the good of us all and the benefit of us all," she said.

- Grace Hampton, executive assistant to the provost for the development of the arts

Carol Herrmann, senior vice president for administration, might agree with Hampton that the environment is changing.

Herrmann, the only female senior vice president, said she thinks women are moving past the point of having to prove themselves.

"My legacy will be that women can do these jobs. Women have this energy," Herrmann said.

"That's the best I can do."

She said she is willing to use herself as a 'recruiting tool' to encourage other women to pursue administrative positions.

The University is helping to improve the overall quality of the recruitment of minorities and women by re-examining its search process, said James Stewart, vice provost for educational equity.

As part of the strategic plan created by the Office of Educational Equity, searches for administrative and faculty positions should:

-- ensure they examine all applicants to insure a diverse representation.

-- ensure the committee itself has diverse representation.

-- require skills in working within a diverse environment and in incorporating diversity into their job from all applicants.

While University President Graham Spanier said he does want to be sure that search committees consider a diverse pool of applicants, the University is always looking for the best person for job first.

- Graham Spanier, University President

"When we hire someone in an underrepresented group, we are doing so because they are the most qualified," he said.

As the University continues to expand its efforts toward diversity on all levels, Stewart said he understands that the relatively steady size of the University -- in addition to other obstacles -- will slow some of the progress.

"It takes a while. If the University was sort of in a growth mode, it would be easier," he said.

However, the possibility for a more diverse administration in the future starts much earlier than the search process starts, said Beverly Lindsay, dean of the Office of International Programs.

The type of education a student pursues and how far it is pursued play large factors in how far a student can go in a career because many administrative positions require or encourage a graduate or doctorate degree, Lindsay said.

"How successful you are at Penn State determines how successful you will be in the future," she said. "It's a continuous process."

The encouragement for pursuing those degrees starts even earlier than that, she added.

If girls see women in positions of authority, they will find it easier to believe that they can dream of obtaining such a position for themselves, she said.