What is the University of Rochester’s financial commitment to faculty diversity?
The Provost has administered a University faculty support fund for many years to assist deans and department chairs in creating competitive recruitment and retention packages for faculty who are members of groups that are underrepresented in their academic fields. As a result of Task Force recommendations, this fund was re-named the Special Opportunities Fund in 2007. Its size was doubled to $400,000 in FY2008 and raised to $500,000 in FY2009. Over the course of the five-year period beginning FY2008, a minimum of $2.4 million will be available in the Special Opportunities Fund. This supplements resources available in departments and schools. Each dean that utilizes the Special Opportunities Fund must submit an annual report summarizing progress toward achieving the school’s (or department’s) diversity goals.
