COLUMBUS - Thousands of recent high school graduates are heading for college this fall with high hopes for eventually graduating with a degree. However, more than 26 percent of freshmen at four-year colleges do not return for their sophomore year, and minority students in particular make up a large number of those dropping out. In an effort to address the problems associated with student and faculty retention, The Ohio State University will launch a diversity lecture series beginning Sept.26, 2000, at the Fawcett Center Hotel and Conference Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road.

Scheduled throughout the 2000-01 academic year, The President and Provost's Diversity Lecture series will bring 16 nationally recognized experts to campus to address issues of interest to the university community. Vincent Tinto, an authority on student retention and professor of education and sociology at Syracuse University, will kick off the lecture series beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Speakers will discuss such topics as increasing African American and Hispanic student and faculty recruitment and retention, increasing graduation rates for students of color, workplace diversity and new strategies for change, and racial justice in a multicultural society. The series reflects University President William E. Kirwan's commitment to achieving excellence through diversity.

Frank W. Hale, Jr., vice provost and provost emeritus for minority affairs and consultant to the president, organized the series. "Our intent is to provide information and thoughtful discussion on a wide range of topics," he said. "Everyone at Ohio State should find one or more speakers whose message will relate directly to their experiences and challenges."

The President and Provost's Lecture Series will be among those programs spearheading the university's efforts to achieve six objectives that include:

-Creating a supportive and welcoming environment for all individuals.

-Recruiting and retaining greater numbers of women and minorities in faculty, staff and administrative positions (including deans, chairs and vice presidents).

-Providing incentives for developing models of excellence for increasing diversity.

-Collecting and organizing data to measure progress and to intensify programs intended to enhance diversity.

-Assigning accountability to achieve the progress envisioned in this action plan.

To ensure that these objectives can be attained, a "Diversity Action Plan" was completed and submitted to the university on June 12, 2000. The plan urges the higher education community to take bold steps in "creating and maintaining a campus community that reflects the rich diversity of this country."

###

(LO)