Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

NAACP, U. Missouri-Kansas City move forward together
By Derek Simons
University News (U. Missouri-Kansas City)
05/18/2007

(U-WIRE) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the University of Missouri-Kansas City has promised to actively pursue numerous improvements for minority students, faculty and staff.

The details of the agreement address many of the issues raised in a survey commissioned by UMKC in October 2005, to study problems facing minorities on campus.

The MOU, mediated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), was signed on Friday in a brief ceremony at the African American History and Culture House.

When Chancellor Guy Bailey, Anita Russell, the Kansas City, Mo., branch president of the NAACP, and DOJ representative William Whitcomb finished exchanging copies of the 17-page document, a warm applause broke out among those present.

"Over the last year, we've worked closely with the NAACP and the Department of Justice in turning what I think was a liability for us into a positive asset," Bailey said.

"This is something that is ongoing," Russell said. "We plan to meet quarterly and review things."

By spring 2008, UMKC will "develop written strategies intended to increase the recruitment, admission and financial assistance for students from underrepresented minority groups."

The University will "aggressively seek" to increase its efforts to recruit, promote and award tenure to minority faculty.

"Signing a piece of paper doesn't magically solve [the problems]," Russell said. "But it is a step in the right direction."

In his opening remarks, Bailey mentioned the 2005 survey as not being very positive for the University. He is pleased with progress made in the last year.

"I think we now have the best Office of Diversity, Access and Equity in the U.S.," Bailey said. "We really did hire top-notch people."

Deputy Chancellor for Diversity, Access and Equity, Dr. Karen Dace, said mechanisms have been put in place to make sure minority contractors and businesses have the opportunities to do business with UMKC.

The very last part of the MOU refers to the Black Studies program, stating it is "undergoing major changes," with the goal of creating a strong curriculum and "the possibility of conversion to a degree program."

"UMKC is an urban university right in the heart of the city," Russell said. "It needs to meet the needs of folks living in the city."

Russell said UMKC was committed from the very beginning of the discussions, and the NAACP appreciated the University's efforts.

"It was a long and protracted process," Whitcomb said. "I purposely designed it that way because I wanted to make sure it was a process of inclusion. Every stakeholder had an opportunity to lend input into the process."

The MOU will be in effect for five years before coming up for renewal.

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