More than 50 members of the MU community gathered together Thursday to hear updates on the university’s strategic plan, One Mizzou: 2020 Vision for Excellence.
Panelists at the forum presented the progress the strategic plan has achieved so far. Topics ranged from the diversity course requirement to providing competitive compensation packages for MU staff and faculty.
The student body is very proud of the brand name One Mizzou stands for, Missouri Students Association President Xavier Billingsley said at the forum.
“‘One Mizzou’ says it doesn’t matter what color I am, or what religion or what sexual orientation,” Billingsley said. “It doesn’t matter because we are all united.”
Billingsley explained the steps the university has taken to reach the objective to build and strengthen diversity on campus.
“One goal for next year is to have a One Mizzou week that will be like a second Homecoming,” Billingsley said. “In comparison to other (Southeastern Conference) schools, we have taken a lead in diversity programming.”
A diversity course requirement, which was [voted down]( https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/5/14/faculty-shoots-down-diversity-course-requirement-p/) by faculty last year, is also something One Mizzou will continue to pursue, Billingsley said.
“I will preach for it until it happens,” Billingsley said. “Students have to get out of their comfort zones and out of the residence halls. There has to be diversity education for students.”
Faculty feedback indicates they think a required course will not take care of diversity problems on campus, Faculty Council chairman Harry Tyrer said at the forum.
“We have to be more creative,” Tyrer said. “We are looking at creating diversity courses within the individual colleges.”
Other panelists included Provost Brian Foster, Mizzou Advantage facilitator Carolyn Henry and Marijo Dixon, lead member of the staff task force addressing compensation issues.
Under the strategic plan, the Staff Advisory Council appointed the task force to research innovative ideas for improving compensation and training, according to the One Mizzou website. Possible ideas include earmarking a portion of savings from Shared Services for staff raises.
Dixon encouraged faculty and staff members to email her with ideas.
“We have been working for the last year and a half to find innovative ways for compensation, and it’s harder than you’d think,” Dixon said. “Inspiration can come from the strangest places – if you have even a germ of an idea – please email me.”
Campus Planning Committee Members Pat Okker facilitated the discussion.
“What is unique about (this strategic plan), is that it is a living document — it is continuously and frequently changing,” Okker said. “It is different than a plan you write every 10 years. It is something we will revisit on a regular basis.”
Staff Advisory Council member Khesha Duncan said she was encouraged by the forum and felt One Mizzou has made good progress.
“In a time when a lot of universities are struggling to keep their heads above water, we are looking to the future,” Duncan said. “We are growing while we tread water.”
