Dr. Livingston Reflects on Two Decades of Transformation at UC

From UC News:

Livingston Reflects On Two Decades of Transformation at UC

Date: 1/3/2013 12:00:00 AM

By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

   Mitchel D. Livingston retired from his position as the University of Cincinnati’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer on Dec. 31. 

Livingston was initially appointed Vice President for Student Affairs and Services at UC in 1994. In 2007 he was assigned additional responsibilities as UC’s Chief Diversity Officer.

“As I leave the university, it is with great pride of a journey filled with special connections that have above all enriched the lives of our students,” Livingston said. “As I reflect on the past two decades, I am overwhelmed with the progress we have made and that UC is now a first choice university that is committed to diversity and excellence. “

Mitchel Livingston with Marian Spencer, who co-chaired UC's Diversity Task Force

When he joined the university, Livingston said he could see the tremendous potential of the Student Affairs Division and especially the commitment by many people to diversity and excellence in all aspects of university life. 

“Student Affairs is an integral part of the university with a wide range of functions expanding from technology and services to values and community,” Livingston said. “This division enjoys a unique position in its ability to impact students from the time we welcome them when they first enter the university to the time we see them depart after commencement.”

The university, he said, is more than brick and mortar and the Student Affairs division is more than just the programs and services it provides. 

“Student Affairs develops student leaders with character by instilling values in all of our interactions with students,” Livingston said. “Given this foundation and our ‘students first’ philosophy, Student Affairs will continue to thrive and be a strong contributing member to this institution.”

2012 Diversity Grant Recipients Announced

From: UC News

Six grants to improve UC's diversity have been awarded. Proposals from throughout the university were invited to suggest initiatives for funding.

Date: 3/7/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

   University of Cincinnati Chief Diversity Officer Mitchel D. Livingston, in conjunction with the President’s Diversity Council, has awarded six competitive grants totaling $45,000 to promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse student and employee population.

Mitchel D. Livingston

“Proposals submitted covered a wide range of ideas which made a challenging review process for the selection team,” said Livingston.

The funded initiatives were selected from 20 proposals submitted in this, the fourth year of the grant program, in response to an invitation from the President’s Diversity Council. Applicants were strongly encouraged to find matching funds to extend the impact of the grants.

The following six awards have been granted for the 2012 diversity incentive proposals.

College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services
Gen 1HouseAward Amount: $8000
Matching Funds: $9000The Partner for Achieving School Success program at the College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services will expand its Gen-1 Theme House to provide services for up to 36 new freshmen residents and up to 15 sophomores and approximately 30 juniors and seniors whho are continuing in the expanded Gen-1 program. Participants are first-generation students who are Pell-eligible. This unique program and its staff have been cited in local, regional, and national media for successful efforts to alleviate barriers for underrepresented students at a public, research-extensive university.

College of Law
Bridge ProgramAward Amount: $3400
Matching Funds: $3,205The College of law will create a pilot “bridge” program for entering law students from diverse backgrounds to master the foundational skills required for the successful study and practice of law. The program represents a collaboration between the McMicken College departments of English and Philosophy, and the College of Law. The six-day program is designed to increase student competencies in critical thinking and analysis as well as composition and drafting.  

Administration & Finance Division/Human Resources

Diversity Benefits SeriesAward Amount: $6600
Matching Funds: $6598The award will support a series of online training courses to provide management tools for faculty and administrators who are responsible for understanding diversity issues. The Diversity Benefits to All Employees series demonstrates how a diverse population can positively impact the university. The series covers topics ranging from respect for cultural traditions to managing a multigenerational workforce to LGBT issues in the workplace.

College of Business
Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders (TL2)Award Amount: $9000
Matching Funds: $32,530The TL2 program is a summer program bringing a diverse selection of high school students to campus for foundation study in economics and the opportunity to earn standing credit. The coursework includes field experience to introduce these students to the UC environment and the Cincinnati economy.

McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
Putting Retention 1st in the Zest for Excellence (PR1ZE)Award Amount: $9000
Matching Funds: $12,495PR1ZE will expand its program to an additional 30 students and bolster academic engagement through undergraduate research. The PR1ZE mentoring program was designed in 2008 to help increase the retention and graduation rate of African-American students in the College of Arts and Sciences. With funding from the Diversity Council, the program expanded in 2010 to include all African-American Students campus-wide.

College of Allied Health Sciences
Diversity EnhancementAward Amount: $9000
Matching Funds: $9000The Diversity Enhancement program includes a mentoring component in which college alumni are matched with current students and a dual enrollment component to enroll Hughes High School students from the health pathway sequence in college classes.

UC's Right to Know Information Paper-Free for 2010-2011

From our Vice-President of Student Affairs & Services and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Mitchel Livingston:

The University of Cincinnati is required by federal legislation to publish and disseminate certain information annually. This year for the first time, we are providing this information to you electronically rather than in paper form. UC's Right to Know presents facts about the Drug-Free Campus, safety and security information, retention and graduation rates and information about the privacy of student educational records. In addition, we provide information and resources on a variety of topics of interest to all members of our university community. You can find this information at www.uc.edu/righttoknow .

The University of Cincinnati is committed to building community among its students, faculty and staff. It is important that we understand the values and beliefs we all share as these define us as one community. We are working to make this campus a community in which all members treat others as they would like to be treated. We challenge each of you to assist us in creating a just and fair campus and not one that is separated by language, gender, culture, class, or race.

As Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, I remain committed to working in partnership with each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Mitchel D. Livingston

Vice President for Student Affairs

and Chief Diversity Officer

University Condemns Harrassment around Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

From UC News:

University of Cincinnati Chief Diversity Officer Mitchel D. Livingston reminds the UC community that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression will not be tolerated. The university offers a variety of services to assist the community.

Date: 10/6/2010 12:00:00 AM
By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

   “It is a fundamental policy of the University of Cincinnati that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression will not be tolerated,” said Mitchel D. Livingston, UC chief diversity officer. “Discriminatory harassment violates the university’s policies and is comprehensively prohibited. Additionally, such behavior is antithetical to our aspiration of becoming a just and caring community."

Mitchel D. Livingston

Livingston spoke in response to recent suicides with direct ties to LGBT bullying and harassment reported elsewhere in the country.
“These senseless tragedies remind us how much work must still be done to create safe and welcoming environments in educational settings for LGBT students,” Livingston said.
The University of Cincinnati’s efforts take two forms, Livingston said. On the one hand, the university strongly condemns discrimination and harassment through University Rules and policies against harassment and discrimination. On the other hand, the university provides services to support the campus LGBTQ community.
The resources available at the University of Cincinnati include:    
Women’s CenterThe UC Women’s Center currently coordinates UC’s LGBTQ Office (681 Steger Student Life Center) which is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and also provides space for Girls Like Us, a social support group for UC students identifying as lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, intersex, woman-identified, or for any female student exploring her sexuality or gender identity, facilitated by the LGBTQ graduate assistant, Brittany Carbonara
513-556-4401
www.uc.edu/ucwc
LGBTQ Center
The UC LGBTQ Center provides descriptions of programming, student groups, and community LGBTQ support.
Contact: Brittany Carbonara
513-556-4329
carbonby@mail.uc.edu
www.uc.edu/lgbtq
Counseling Center
The UC Counseling Center provides a wealth of resources including walk-in urgent care hours where a counselor can be seen immediately. Hours are: Mondays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The UC Counseling Center recommends the services of a suicide hotline, 1-800-SUICIDE, a service of the Kristin Brooks Hope Center www.hopeline.com  where students can access support outside both via phone and online. 
www.uc.edu/counseling/
GenderBloc
UC GenderBloc is a radical queer activist, support and social student group at the University of Cincinnati for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied students focusing on gender issues including transgender and genderqueer activism.
www.genderbloc.org
       
UC Alliance       
UC Alliance aims to develop interpersonal relationships in a social and educational atmosphere through activities and events for the LGBTQ community and its allies.
www.ucalliance.org
University Rule 10-13-01
Administrative Memorandum #60
Administrative Memorandum #108