DIRECTOR, OFFICE of EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

POSITION DESCRIPTION

North Dakota State University invites nominations, and applications for this position:

The Director of Equity and Diversity at North Dakota State University reports directly to the President, provides leadership and coordination for the University’s efforts to enhance diversity and implement the strategic plan for diversity, oversees the fulfillment of the University’s ethical and legal commitments to equal opportunity and affirmative action, and actively supports and advocates for the University’s anti-racism initiative. The director’s responsibilities also include hearing and investigating formal and informal grievances, monitoring the recruitment and selection process for academic and administrative personnel, and providing training related to these responsibilities for campus constituents.

THE UNIVERSITY

North Dakota State University is enjoying a remarkable period of growth and success. Located on the state's eastern border in Fargo, North Dakota 's largest city, NDSU is the state's Morrill Act land-grant institution.

Recognized as an engaged university and considered a leader among its peers, NDSU has set numerous enrollment records in recent years. With more than 12,000 students, NDSU encompasses a broad spectrum of curricular offerings, scholarly activity and service. The university strives to be an innovator in information systems, technology transfer, economic development and lifelong learning. NDSU also is home to the state's only full NCAA Division I athletic program.

Innovative teaching and learning are conducted in nine academic units: the Colleges of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Business; Engineering and Architecture; Human Development and Education; Pharmacy, Nursing & Allied Sciences; Science and Mathematics; the Graduate School & Interdisciplinary Studies; and University Studies. NDSU has 41 doctoral programs, 55 master's degree programs, one specialist degree, one professional degree and 107 baccalaureate majors.

NDSU researchers are leading major initiatives in such areas as nanotechnology, microelectronics, polymers, food safety and materials science. Annual research expenditures exceed $100 million annually as reported by the National Science Foundation. In a partnership with Alien Technology Inc., NDSU's Research and Technology Park will soon be home to the world's first mass scale Radio Frequency Identification tag research and production facility.

The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and NDSU Extension Service are integral parts of the university.

NDSU employs almost 600 ranked faculty and lecturers, about 250 extension educators and experiment station researchers, and more than 700 graduate assistants and fellows. In total, the university has nearly 4,600 full-time and part-time employees across the state.

NDSU is a major research universities in an 11-institution state university system and is striving to substantially increase the number of international students enrolled at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NDSU also serves people across the state through continuing education and extension programs. NDSU participates in the Tri-College University consortium with neighboring Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College .

THE COMMUNITY

Named one of the most desirable places in the country to live by Money magazine, Fargo has earned a reputation as a great place to live. Located in the rich farmlands of the Red River Valley adjacent to the Minnesota lake country, the Fargo-Moorhead community has many qualities that contribute to this reputation, including highly-respected educational opportunities K-12 through college, advanced medical technology, a progressive business community, numerous cultural and arts opportunities, a clean environment and good hearted, friendly people.

Fargo's revitalized downtown has gained recent national publicity through such media outlets as the Los Angeles Times, The Today Show and National Public Radio. The reports describe an energetic, contemporary feel to many of the downtown's trendy restaurants, nightlife and entertainment opportunities.

With more than 178,000 people in the community and about 500,000 people in the service area, Fargo-Moorhead is among the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle and was recently named an All-American City. To learn more about what national publications are saying about the community's quality of life, visit www.fmchamber.com/community/qualityoflife.html.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct the University's efforts to fulfill its ethical and legal commitments to equal opportunity/affirmative action and actively work to promote diversity and develop an organization climate that fosters inclusion.

Specifically, this includes:

• Serve as co-chair for the Diversity Council:
  • Share leadership and plan agendas for the Council’s monthly meetings with the Provost (co-chair).
  • Coordinate the Council’s implementation of the campus strategic plan for diversity.
• Participate in the University’s anti-racism initiative:
• Serve as a member of the NDSU Anti-Racism team.
• Serve as one of the campus representatives to anti-racism collaborations with other local/regional colleges and universities.
• Serve on the NDSU Extension Service catalyst team and participate, as relevant, in the national Change Agent States consortium (Extension).
• Revise and update the University’s Affirmative Action Plan annually.
• Participate in campus-wide committees including the President’s Council, the Policy Coordination Committee as appointed or invited. 
• Complete and file required reports (IPEDS, VETS 100, etc.)
• Conduct annual faculty salary study in conjunction with Statistical Consulting Center/Department of Statistics.
• Build and maintain relationships with campus and community groups providing support for people from historically underrepresented groups.
• Make annual notification of NDSU equal opportunity policy to employees and students.
• Serve as NDSU’s Title IX and ADA Coordinator and also the Civil Rights Coordinator for the NDSU Extension Service and the ND Agricultural Experiment Station.

Address formal and informal grievances based on allegations of illegal discrimination and/or harassment.

Specifically, this includes:

• Prepare responses for complaints filed with external compliance agencies such as the North Dakota Department of Labor or the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
• Receive internally filed equal opportunity grievances and coordinate the investigation and facilitate the overall formal grievance process.
• Hear informal concerns and complaints and work with the individuals involved to achieve resolution.

Provide formal and informal programs and training related to equity, diversity, and equal opportunity and affirmative action responsibilities and requirements.

Specifically, this includes:

• Make presentations at all new employee (staff) orientation sessions.
• Make presentations and provide training sessions for classes and campus groups, as invited or needed, on topics related to diversity, equal opportunity and affirmative action.
• Work collaboratively with personnel in the Provost=s Office to plan annual new faculty orientation and present at the orientation. 
• Promote and monitor participation in on-line sexual harassment training.
• Provide training regularly for search committee chairs.
• Work closely with Equity and Diversity Assistant to develop training for support staff in the use of PeopleSoft Recruiting Solutions.   
• Identify and provide educational resources related to diversity issues for various campus constituents.
• Develop educational materials, brochures, etc., for distribution on campus and use in presentations/training sessions.
• Consult with administrators, as requested or needed, regarding potential issues of discrimination and/or harassment.

Monitor the recruitment/selection process for major administrative, faculty and other academic staff positions including NDSU Extension Service and Experiment Station professional positions not in the broadbanded system and serve as resource for broadbanded (staff) recruitment and selection process, as requested.

Specifically, this includes:

• Work closely with and advise search committees for faculty and other academic staff positions and major administrative positions.
• Identify resources for recruitment of faculty from historically underrepresented groups and make available on the web.
• Consult with and advise the Equity and Diversity Assistant, as needed, regarding:
  • Requests to initiate searches including recruitment plans and search committee composition and monitor process as appropriate.
  • Entry of tenure data in PeopleSoft for newly hired faculty and monitoring regularly all current tenure data for accuracy and working cooperatively with Provost’s Office to update faculty information.
  • Review of payroll forms for administrative, faculty and other academic staff to assure accuracy with regard to hiring process and appointment status.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate degree
• Significant professional experience in equity and diversity related work including a demonstrated ability to work with people from historically underrepresented groups and with a range of constituent
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
  
• Investigative skills
• Working knowledge of academic organizations
• Experience with civil rights laws and federal regulations
• Understanding of the dynamics of power and privilege as they relate to diversity

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Terminal degree
• Relevant and significant administrative experience in higher education; demonstrated leadership
• Understanding of the human resources function in an organization
• Experience giving presentations and relevant training
• Experience with civil rights laws and federal regulations affecting higher education
• Working knowledge of the land grant university system

For consideration, applicants must send a cover letter specifically addressing the advertised qualifications, a current resume, and the names and contact information (including telephone numbers and e-mail address) for three (3) professional references either electronically to gina.a.haugen@ndsu.edu or via regular mail to:

John C. Adams , Search Committee Chair
North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 5227
Fargo, ND 58105-5227

Screening will begin June 25, 2007, and continue until the committee has identified individuals for interviews.  Inquiries about the position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, John Adams, Vice President for Business and Finance (john.adams@ndsu.edu ) or 701-231-8412. A due diligence process (background check) will be conducted on all finalists. This search will be conducted in compliance with the North Dakota open records law.

NDSU is an equal opportunity institution.

www.ndsu.edu