Affirmative Action is defined as an active efforts to improve employment or educational opportunities for minority groups and women. Affirmative action began as a government solution to remedy the effects of long-standing discrimination against suchy groups and consisted of policies, program,s and procedures that give limited preferences to iminorities and women in job hiring, admission to institutions of higher education, and other social benefits. The typical criteria for affairmative action are race, disability, gender, ethnic origin, and age.
The Minnesota State College system began its affirmative action program in the spring of 1972 and campuses were required to participate. At St. Cloud State, Howard Russell served as a consultant to start and develop an affirmative action program. The program was revised in the spring of 1974 by the Minnesota governor's executive order 76. The order required at individual state agenices, among many things, appointment of an executive staff membr as equal opportunity officer as well as an appointment of a campus-wide affirmative action committee.
Though John Tomlinson was appointed as affirmative action officer, James Kitchen was soon given that role. According to the records in the office of president, there were no positions available for a full-time affirmative action officer and also felt that a teaching position was not appropriate. Instead, an assignment was made for an affirmative action officer on a part-time basis of a qualified individual and given some of the responsiblities that were held by Howard Russell. The position would eventually became a full-time appointment.
The position was intially part of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Beginning in 1991/92, Affirmative Action reported to the office of the president and continues to do so today.
Names:
Affirmative Action: 1974 - 2010
Equity and Affirmative Action: 2010 - 2020+
Affirmative Action Officers:
April 1974 - June 1974: John Tomlinson (who was also VP for Academic Affairs)
July 1974 - July 1976: James Kitchen (who was also Minority Culture Center director)
July 1976 - November 1976: Robert Becker (acting)
November 1976 - June 1977: Patricia Darrah (who was also Minority Culture Center director)
July 1977 - September 1977: Robert Becker (acting)
September 1977 - 1982/83: Barb Grachek
1983/84: Robert Becker (acting)
1984/85: Barb Grachek
1985/86: Mil Voelker (acting)
1986/87 - 1989/90: Mil Voelker
1990/91: Caroline Boureston (acting)
1991/92 - 1993/94: Jill Ciliberto
1994/95 - 1996/97: Debra Carlson
1997/98 - May 2002: Laurel Allen
January 2003 - July 2003: Aly Xiong (interim)
2003/04? - 2005/06: Ann Zemek de Dominguez (interim)
April 2006 - 2008/09: Susan Moss
January 2010 - present: Ellyn Bartges
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