POSITION PURPOSE:

The Campus Diversity Officer (CDO) provides unique, creative and strategic leadership to empower Bemidji State University (BSU) and Northwest Technical College (NTC) to become more sensitive to and aware of local, state and national issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion in hopes of  creating more just living, learning and working communities. Collaborating with others, the CDO supports the development, delivery, and communication of programs, services and curricula that address racial and social justice, and other interests and needs of all BSU and NTC stakeholders. In addition, the CDO will partner with local communities, organizations and entities to ensure that our historical and unique demographics, along with our strong regional culture, will be visible and present in our campus identities. The CDO is also responsible for providing oversight for Affirmative Action in the hiring process and Equal Opportunity in compliance with Federal and State laws, as well as Title IX compliance. This position involves significant discretion and substantial involvement in the development, interpretation, and implementation of University and College strategic planning and policy development – with a focus on faculty and staff engagement, and student academic achievement. This position involves frequent interaction and collaboration with other Minnesota State System CDOs. This executive level position reports directly to the president.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Provides leadership for and coordinates the development of campus strategic diversity plans. Provides follow-up, accountability and best practice modeling.
• Serves as an expert resource and consultant to students, staff and faculty at all levels of the University and College for diversity, equity and inclusion-related initiatives and the development and implementation of culturally relevant practices and curriculum.
• Chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committees.
• Develops and sustains working relationships with diverse and underrepresented groups to achieve objectives of mutual interest.
• Serves on relevant campus committees to develop strategies that promote the campuses as places of multiculturalism, equity and inclusion.
• Builds and sustains relationships and effects change across many campus departments including Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Student Life & Success (including Student Conduct and Housing and Residential Life), and Athletics for diversity, equity and inclusion concerns.

2. Training and Education

• Develops and delivers training for search committees that addresses diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and compliance issues.
• Monitors and contributes to the education and training provided for faculty, staff, and students as well as for those who are a part of investigation processes.
• Recruits decision makers and ensures that each receives necessary training for their role.

3. Affirmative Action, Recruitment, and Retention of Faculty and Staff

• Provides leadership for and coordinates the development of a campus-wide affirmative action plan. Provides follow-up, accountability and best practice modeling.
• Provides leadership and oversight to ensure compliance with the system’s federal and state compliance obligations, including Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities statutes and regulations.
• Ensures dissemination of multiple and visible resources to the campus community on ADA, discrimination and harassment.
• Oversees and coordinates response to complaints alleging violations of EEO, ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and conducts investigations, coordinates investigations, or hires an outside investigator when necessary.
• Ensures that civil-rights-based and Title IX grievance procedures are in place to address complaints of discrimination, Title IX and/or other sexual violence-related misconduct and that preventive measures are in place to manage reports of disability-based discrimination.
• Collaborates as necessary with internal offices and external agencies to process complaints and address the concerns of complainants and respondents.

4. Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting

• Collects and analyzes data that provide information useful to support and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• Collects and analyzes recruitment, retention, persistence, and completion data that can inform programming and services for all students.
• Widely distributes (electronically and in-person presentations) data such as racial and diversity mapping, student retention and persistence, and faculty/staff recruitment and retention.
• Reports on progress toward achieving the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan for Diversity.

5. Student Access & Success

• Supports and participates in initiatives that ensure the retention and completion of students who are Indigenous and People of Color; Lesbian, Gay, Bi-/Pan-sexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+); and/or differently abled.
• Collaborates with Academic Affairs, Student Life and Success and others to ensure a welcoming, inclusive and success-oriented environment for all students.
• Supports the exploration and sharing of best practices related to improve retention, persistence, and completion for at risk and under-represented students.

6. Faculty and Staff Diversity

• Develops, supports and participates in initiatives that ensure the retention and career success of Indigenous, People of Color and other diverse faculty.
• Collaborates appropriately to develop innovative strategies to successfully recruit, employ and retain a workforce reflective of the changing state and national demographics.

7. Supervision

• Responsible for staffing and managing the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to include all facets of normal supervision. Ensures the office is fully staffed to meet the needs of the campus community, particularly student needs.  Evaluates employee performance, reward or discipline employees, and effectively recommend the promotion, suspension, discharge, or change of status according to performance.