This is part one of a two-part story on campus diversity.

A major issue for University of Houston-Clear Lake is diversity in schools. As the student population increases, so does the need for more minority faculty.

"We live in a very diverse world," said Edward J. Hayes, senior vice president and provost. "The city of Houston, specifically, is one of the most diversified cities in the United States. In such an environment, it is unacceptable that we continue to have an all or 80-90 percent caucasian faculty.

"Our students need role models from people of color to show them that there are opportunities for them to succeed in all professional careers. To close our minds and continue to demonstrate a lack of sensitivity to this need is tantamount to hiding our heads in the sand and saying that we do not have an obligation to provide such opportunities for our students, as well as for minority faculty."

Ten years ago, the university had eight minority faculty members. Five years ago, the minority faculty had risen to 10. As of 2002, of the 159 faculty members employed by UH-Clear Lake, 17 are minorities.

Hayes says obtaining minority faculty members is not easy because it is a competitive market between universities around the country.

"The first challenge was getting the search committees and individuals within the schools to understand the importance of having a diversified faculty," Hayes said. "The other challenge is that it has been very, very competitive to hire minority faculty because we are competing against all universities around the country who are trying to do the same thing we are. There are a limited number of such faculties available at any given time."

Judith Marquez, program area chair of foundations and professional studies and associate professor of bilingual and multicultural education, has been with UH-Clear Lake as an adjunct since 1989.

Marquez teaches Spanish for Bilingual Teachers and Research Issues in Spanish Language Arts and Reading. She is also in charge of grants for the School of Education.

The School of Education offers three types of grants to attract minorities to UH-Clear Lake.

The New Horizon program is for undergraduate and graduate students who want to transfer to UH-Clear Lake. This program pays for the students' remaining hours of certification in bilingual education and for supplemental certificates in bilingual education. There is a waiting list for this program and it will not be accepting new applicants. The grant expires in 2004.

The Collaborative Bilingual Counselors grant is for graduate students. This program helps pay tuition for 30 students who are working toward a master's degree in counseling or who want to get certified in school counseling. The program will be ending September 2004 and is not accepting new applicants.

The Collaborative Bilingual Administrators training grant is for graduate students. This is a brand new grant with a 5-year program that started in the fall of 2002. The grant pays for two groups of students to go through the Master's in Education Leadership Program and to obtain principal certification. The two groups have about 30 students each. There are still opportunities to apply for the grant.

"We are constantly looking for new grants and opportunities," Marquez said. "Since we have two grants ending in 2004, we will be looking for something to replace them. We especially want to replace the New Horizon grant for undergraduates because it has been a big help in boosting our numbers for the bilingual certification program."

Leroy Robinson, Jr., assistant professor of management information systems, has been with UH-Clear Lake less than two years.

Robinson says he is happy to be at a place where there is an active commitment to increasing the diversity of the faculty.

"I have been able to demonstrate that I am and will be a positive influence on the students at UH-Clear Lake," Robinson said. "I believe that by increasing the diversity of the faculty, my department and school will be better able to increase the likelihood that its students will have successful careers."

Lisa Jones, assistant professor of multicultural education, said that minority faculty has improved somewhat since her employment with UH-Clear Lake four years ago.

"There is still much work to do in recruiting and retaining minority faculty," Jones said. "When we are able to do this, our number of minority students, particularly African-Americans, will improve."

Jones says she is hopeful that the university will develop a philosophy that will embrace the diversity among faculty and students.

"I believe that my greatest accomplishment here has been finally reaching a pinnacle where I don't have to constantly prove myself as an African-American female professor to others," Jones said. "I hope that in the future the university's environment will foster more tolerance among students, faculty and staff.

"I hope that we, as a university, develop a philosophy that embraces the diversity among us. Right now, I feel that we are on our way to that type of environment, but we have much more to do. Unfortunately, the influence of society also dictates how fast this will happen. I am hopeful and excited about being a part of the change. UH-Clear Lake is a good place to be, but it's going to take the efforts of so many committed individuals to make it the best place to be."

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