Dear Liz,
My suggestion in response is this, you will need to first monitor, by racial
group, gender and disability, who is currently represented on all your
committees. Then having identified which minority and diverse groups are not
represented, you can base any Positive Action initiatives, targeting,
outreach work etc,that you might undertake to address this
under-representation, on the unsatisfactory institutional picture that you
will have identified, as a result of the monitoring exercise. Monitoring
also gives you a good evidential base to make your case from and convince
any would be detractors.
Please be minded that throughout all this exercise and any initiatives that
you may decide are necessary, you will need to keep everyone else within the
institution fully apprised of the what, why and how of what you are doing.
Communication, consultation and meaningful involvement of all those who are
relevant, within the institution, is vital. This will not only ensure that
you are keeping the institution on board, but also that people will know the
reason why they might be asked to do certain things in a particular manner
in order to support what you are doing. If this is not done, it becomes very
difficult to sustain any initiatives that you may decide to embark on, as
part of your response to the requirements of both the RRAA and more
importantly, the mores of an equality and diversity based good institutional
practice.
I hope this helps. If you need any further information on any of the above,
please feel free to get back in touch with me any time.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Mannie Kusemamuriwo
Policy Adviser: Ethnicity & Cultural Diversity
Equality Challenge Unit
3rd Floor, 4 Tavistock Place
London WC1H 9RA
Tel 020 7520 7063
Fax 020 7520 7069
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-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Jean Rosemary Burchett
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 21 January 2003 09:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Committee under- representation
I am interested to hear from HEI colleagues how they are tackling the
issue of under- representation of ethnic minorities, women and disabled
members of university committees. What approach is being adopted and has
anything worked?
I appreciate your advice and comments
Best wishes
Liz
Liz Burchett, Equalities Co-ordinator
Human Resources Division, Sussex House,
University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH
Tel 01273 877602 Email: [log in to unmask]
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