University Diversity Council

Diversity Council Charter

The University Diversity Council (UDC) functions as an advisory council and recommending body to the Office of the Provost and liaison to departments across the university toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.

1. Develop strategic initiatives in alignment with the university strategic plan with annual goals to improve practices related to recruitment, retention, and promotion of diverse faculty, staff, and students.

2. Promote knowledge, skill, and institutional practices toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.

3. Maintain an active line of communication with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE) in analyzing data regarding institutional diversity.

4. Provide a forum for consultation on diversity climate issues that arise throughout the schools.

The Pepperdine University Diversity Council is a university-wide council composed of faculty, administration, staff, and students. 

Creation and Composition of the Council

1. The Pepperdine University Diversity Council voting members will consist of approximately twenty faculty, administration, staff, and students. The Provost of the university and/or office representative will be a non-voting, ex officio member. The Dean of each school shall appoint all faculty members from her or his respective school, or the Dean may choose to be one of the voting members counted as faculty or administration for her or his school. The Council should consider the following departments/constituents for Council composition: Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Intercultural Affairs, Student Affairs, Public Safety, Office of Student Accessibility, Chief Business Officer or representative, Seaver Admissions, Human Resources, Integrated Marketing Communications, Athletics, Office of Student Success, Pepperdine Libraries, representatives from each school's diversity councils, and from each school minimally one staff and one faculty (by election and/or departmental appointment). Student representation consists of one Seaver College undergraduate and one graduate school representative, for one-year terms. Council members serve for a two-year period and may serve successive terms.

2. The UDC will nominate a Council member to serve as chair, conducting an election when necessary. The Provost shall appoint the Council chair for a two-year term. The nomination process occurs in the chair final term of service (by April 1). Chairs may serve consecutive terms and the Council may determine to use a co-chair system at their discretion upon a simple majority vote.
   
   

Presiding Officers, Voting, and Scheduling of Meetings

The Council meets three to four times per academic year or may choose to meet more frequently. The chair will preside and schedule meetings, calling additional meetings at her or his discretion. A recording secretary shall be provided by the Office of the Provost or may also be selected from the Council body to record the minutes for each meeting. When necessary, the Council may create sub-committees to study specific matters of university-wide concern and report back to the Council. In addition, the individual members of the Council may serve in a liaison role to their respective schools/departments. It shall be an important duty and responsibility of all members of the Council to attend meetings for the sake of continuity in discussion and voting. Voting may take place in-person or virtually (online) and at least 50% (quorum) of the Council's voting members must be represented for a vote to pass, unless otherwise determined by the Council. Motions under consideration will be determined by a simple majority.

Current Members