FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Diversity is more than just a word at the University of Arkansas. In fact, it is the top priority for the institution.

It is a “living library” where the books to check out are real, diverse human beings open for conversation.

It is an office committed to international students that has been directly involved with recruiting students from China and Brazil.

Shirley Claypool and Randy Alexander accept the Departmental Diversity Award from Johnetta Cross-Brazzell, left, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Danny Pugh, dean of students.

Bill Oliver, center, academic counselor for Pre-College Programs, accepts the Individual Diversity Award from Johnetta Cross-Brazzell, left, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Danny Pugh, dean of students.

Shelia Burkhalter, far left, Becky Howard and Quincy Spencer, center, accept the New Inintiative Award from Johnetta Cross-Brazzell, left, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Danny Pugh, dean of students.

It is a “Diversity Leadership Institute” designed to train student leaders in First Year Experience Programs and University Housing.

It is an individual who has helped develop a diverse staff recruiting strategy.

These are a few examples of the work done by the departments, people and programs nominated for the Division of Student Affairs first Diversity Recognition Awards. And the partial list gives a good indication of how difficult it was to select only three winners.

“Several judges commented on the high quality of the people and programs that were nominated this year,” said Sylvia Scott, a member of the Student Affairs Diversity Committee, which created the awards. “They had a difficult time deciding the winners.”

The awards were created last year to draw attention to work being done within the Division of Student Affairs that was making a difference in the university community.

“We want the university and northwest Arkansas communities to understand that people in the division are doing more than talking about diversity,” said Scott Flanagin, a member of the Diversity Committee. “There are people who are doing things every day to make the university a more inclusive community, and by recognizing that work we hope to inspire more people to get involved.”  

The winners of the Diversity Recognition Awards were announced Friday, Dec. 14, during the annual Student Affairs Holiday Party. During the celebration, members of the division also collected and donated 312 nonperishable food items (233 cans and 89 boxes) for the Ozark Food Bank.

The three awards given were for a new program, a department, and an individual. The winner of the New Initiative Award is the “Diversity Leadership Institute” created by First Year Experience Programs and University Housing. The institute, which served 235 student leaders in its first year, was designed to help students build awareness of diversity and social justice issues, as well as to encourage student activism.

The Department Award winner, for the second year in a row, is office of university housing. There are many reasons that the housing department is recognized including housing staff’s involvement in Safe Zone Allies, Our Campus diversity training, the Student Affairs Diversity Committee, and living-learning communities such as the Holcombe International Living-Learning Community.

The Individual Award winner is Bill Oliver, an academic counselor with Pre-College Programs. “Because of his American with Disabilities Act training and the fact that his conversation partner is a student with disabilities and requires a wheelchair, Bill approached me about converting one of the desks in the computer lab to an ADA compliant workstation, “ said Carol Altom, director of Veteran’s Upward Bound in Pre-College Programs. “He is using his training to make much needed improvements to our student working area.”

The Departmental Award is a mosaic wall hanging, created by Mountain Home artist R. Scott Flanagin. It shows a branch of the sassafras tree, a tree that has become a symbol of diversity because it has three different types of leaves. The New Initiative Award is a small quilt featuring the sassafras leaf design, and was created by Maryanne Coonley, also of Mountain Home. The Individual Award winner received another art piece created by Flanagin. The winners also received a certificate and a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of their choice. Each nominee also received a certificate of recognition.