University of Oregon interim president Scott Coltrane discussed a long-term push to increase diversity on the evening of Tuesday, October 14.

Coltrane and acting Provost Frances Bronet addressed the University-wide Diversity Committee in the Knight Library.

According to Around the O, the meeting focused on how to expand diversity and inclusion at the University of Oregon.

“First of all, we firmly believe that equity, inclusion and diversity are the work of everyone, not just a select few or a particular department,” Coltrane said. “I ask our colleagues, friends of the university and community partners to work with us in assembling an overarching, strategic framework for equity, inclusion and diversity, as well as individual plans for every unit on our campus.”

Coltrane hopes to increase diversity by making a statement setting the university’s commitment to diversity, creating policy that encourages diversity, finding fundings to carry out initiatives and by establishing priorities.

Coltrane asked the University-wide Diversity Committee to create a public statement on the UO’s commitment to diversity.

“The main message is that diversity is a key component of our mission and something we need to reaffirm from the top and at all levels of the institution,” Coltrane said.

The current UO mission statement includes, “a dedication to the principles of equality of opportunity and freedom from unfair discrimination for all members of the university community and an acceptance of true diversity as an affirmation of individual identity within a welcoming community.”

The 2014-2015 freshman class was the most diverse in UO’s history, with 27% students of color.

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