...BEHS 220 (2152) Personal Action Plan for Diversity Consciousness 8 March 2015 Introduction Diversity is an ongoing discussion in day-to-day life. Not many situations occur without diversity having a role. There are a multitude of topics that introduces or involves diversity, to include age, sex, race, gender, ethnicity and so on. Prior to participating in this Diversity Awareness class, I’ve always thought diversity was more geared around discrimination and racism. Through weekly readings and discussions, I have discovered that diversity is much broader than that. There are many countries that are mixed culturally with people from all over the world, but none like the United States. The United States has the largest mixed culture in the world. Growing up in South Carolina I was exposed to different cultures, however I never fully witnessed some of the cultural things I’ve witnessed since joining the Army. My time in the Army has taken me places I never would have imagined and have exposed me to many different cultures. Reasons for taking BEHS Diversity Awareness I am pursuing a baccalaureate degree in Criminal Justice and it is required for me to complete 6 semester hours of Behavioral and Social Science courses. I’ve always been fascinated with understanding and learning more about...
Words: 1967 - Pages: 8
...Wildlife Conservation Adam Burdick Bryant & Stratton College NSCI 280 Professor Wooten 10/20/2013 Human beings are considered to be the most advance species on the planet. This also makes us the most intrusive species on the planet. We effect our environment more than any other living creature. Our populations continue to grow exponentially each year and as they do we intrude on other species habitats even more. Considering we are the most advanced species it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of all other species and do what we can to shorten the endangered species list. The conservation of wildlife is an incredibly important goal that all people should take part in. “Successful species conservation has often been defined as simply the avoidance of extinction” (Redford 2011.) This is the most important goal of anyone interested in wildlife conservation. It is important for us as a species to take responsibility and make the effort to keep other species away from extinction. Wildlife conservation is not something that can only be handled by professional members of organizations. Anyone can do their part to help protect a species in need. In some cases it is as simple as refraining from harmful activities such as hunting for sport. Hunting is a major conservation concern (Selvan & Veeraswami, p11.) If people raise awareness about how hunting effects the populations of large bodied animals perhaps we can help to reduce the damage done to these...
Words: 1613 - Pages: 7
...Biodiversity Paper Biology as a science concerned with living organisms, said organism’s function, origin, structure, and distribution is defined through numerous subdivisions and branches. Conservation biology is a branch, which deals with certain factors threatening biodiversity as well as the preservation of genetic and biologic diversity of animal and plant species. Threatened, endangered, and extinct species are only some factors that may influence biodiversity. Any given species has to meet a certain criteria to suit the previously named terms. Conservation biologists are concerned with numerous species because of said species’ influence on the interrelation within their ecosystems, and the interruption of such ecosystem when the numbers of a certain species are drastically decreasing. Conservation biology is concerned with the maintenance of species, their genetic variation, ecosystems, and communities within such ecosystems. Biodiversity includes “The variety of life and its processes, including the variety of living organisms, the genetic difference among them, and the communities and ecosystem in which they occur” (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2004, p. 1). Even though the term “species” is complex, and some definitions may differ slightly from others “A species is often defined as a group of individuals that actually or potentially interbreed in nature” (Berkley University, n.d., p. 1). Therefore, a species is defined as the greatest gene pool that can...
Words: 796 - Pages: 4
...Is Diversity the Key? Thomas Evans II tevans1906@yahoo.com GM 591 Leadership and Organizational Behavior M.Mccarhy I. Introduction The home of Tony Romo and a handful of National Football League Head Coaches is what my previous employer and Alma-Mater is most known for to the everyday person. The Eastern Illinois University Athletic Department is rich in history. Eastern Illinois University is a Division I University in Charleston, Illinois. It has a full-time enrollment of about thirteen thousand students and about 500 of those are student athletes. The Athletic Department was first created around 1899 shortly after becoming a fully accredited institution of higher learning. The athletic department has a full-time staff of about 100 employees, 20 interns and graduate assistants, and 20-30 part-time employees that work athletic events. II. Problem Statement African-American, Cantonese, Peruvian, Jewish, Catholic, and Baptist, What do all of these have in common? They are all different classifications of people in the world we live in. The world is made up of many different classifications of people. America is one of the most diverse populations in the entire world. According to Webster’s dictionary diversity is “The state of being diverse or a range of different things”. While that definition is sufficient diversity can be defined in a number of ways. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville believes that “diversity is a commitment to recognizing...
Words: 971 - Pages: 4
...2008 DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN March 17, 2008 Goal 1: Advocacy Item 1: All newly hired employees will be provided with a copy of the Diversity Plan and receive a brief introduction to diversity awareness during their orientation training. Each employee will also receive more intensive diversity awareness training, which must be completed prior to the end of their original probationary period: ongoing. Continue the development of a diversity network to ensure that diversity initiatives and information are distributed throughout the organization: include articles on diversity initiatives and the progress of the Action Plan in the Circulator, the staff newsletter; inform the Board and District staff of diversity activities through formal monthly reports made for Board meetings; and post activities on the District’s web site: ongoing. Provide supervisors and managers with training on how to manage diversity in the work environment. Training will be conducted by an external diversity trainer: ongoing. Reevaluate and update the District’s Diversity Plan for possible revisions. Continue to monitor Action Plan accomplishments on a quarterly basis: ongoing. Implement District Strategic Plan objectives by establishing additional communication tools to promote cultural awareness. Develop a diversity Web page that will provide all-inclusive information on District cultural activities, community organizations and agencies, cultural heritage information and resources, District diversity awards...
Words: 279 - Pages: 2
...1. Is the Bruin Diversity Plan constitutional according to the Equal Protection Clause, strict scrutiny, and the Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger cases? Your response should include a summary of the basic facts and holding of the Grutter and Gratz cases and clearly apply the legal test of strict scrutiny to the Bruin Diversity Plan. The “Bruin Diversity” plan is a proposed admission policy that’s goal is to promote greater student body diversity. The “Bruin Diversity” plan has four stated goals. Goals that aim to reduce historic deficit of ethnic minority groups, to remedy the effects of societal discrimination of ethnic minority groups, to increase the number of professionals who will practice in underserved communities, and to obtain an ethnically diverse student body. The “Bruin Diversity” admission process will utilize a “Selection Index” (point system). The ethnic minority applicants will also receive an extra 20 points and be evaluated by a special committee. Approximately 33% of all admission slots will be given to ethnic minority groups, thanks to...
Words: 1444 - Pages: 6
...The query of whether organizations should utilize affirmative action plans to hire individuals is critical, because equal hiring practices require affirmative action plans. In this paper, I argue that within the current public perceptions or misinterpretations of affirmative action, and the question of what should be considered equal hiring policies, there is no simple answer to this controversial issue. Due to the weaknesses of the arguments against affirmative action plans, I will argue that employers should utilize affirmative action plans more often, given that it provides results in terms of higher diversity in the workplace. Before I begin, I need to define what I mean when I reference these terms. An organization will be regarded as...
Words: 1056 - Pages: 5
...group in the U. S. by the year 2010. In order for companies to fully and aggressively compete in the marketplace, they will need to consider these statistics and work towards attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. This will be critical if they are to survive. They will also need to recognize that the market they cater to is becoming more diverse. Diverse groups are a growing percentage of the buying power in the United States. In order to maintain competitive advantage in the sector they serve, organizations will need to truly understand its customers, clients, members and employees and will need to create an organizational climate that is welcoming to all. The Birth of the Diversity Movement The “Diversity” Movement was born in 1987, when the Hudson Institute launched a study titled “Workforce 2000”. The study projected demographic trends that would impact the workplace, as we knew it by the year 2000. One of the predictions made was that there would be a marked growth in the number of women and minorities entering the workforce. In fact, the report suggested that women,...
Words: 2841 - Pages: 12
...affirmative action policies in place within your company. With today’s workforce becoming increasingly diverse through a wide variety of ways, it is important to follow Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and values. Already accomplishing a steady progression, EEO can be taken a step further in the right direction. Affirmative action is that step. Affirmative action supports minority representation in the workforce and does not support reverse discrimination as some may say (Bohlander & Snell, 2006). Not only is affirmative action in compliance with EEO laws, but it is also just plain good for business. For this reason, I urge this company’s board of directors to implement affirmative action policies. Affirmative action has much to do with forming a balanced workforce (Bohlander & Snell, 2006). Diversity is the key to that balance. By analyzing your workforce to see how diverse it actually is, you can produce a strategy to correct areas of past discrimination (Bohlander & Snell, 2006). Previous discrimination not only in this company, but throughout the entire United States, can be offset by forming an action plan now and for the future (Messerli, 2010). Implementing affirmative action policies now can ensure a less discriminatory future for protected classes. As previously stated, diversity is the key. Companies who put time and effort into recruiting, selecting, training, and promoting members of protected classes have the upper hand (Bohlander & Snell, 2006). Diversity gives...
Words: 862 - Pages: 4
...Organizational Best Practices for Managing Diversity Richard L. Goode MGMT 5306-VC03, Leadership and Management Development Wayland Baptist University Winter, 2013 Abstract Diversity consists of different aspects such as race, ethnicity, age, gender, religious beliefs, social status, and sexual identification. Businesses are expanding in overseas markets which are bringing together different cultures. Additionally, diversity in the workforce is increasing with more women assuming roles that were previously male dominated. How an organization manages their respective diversity programs will have a direct impact on the success of the company. This paper will identify a few of the best practices some organizations have implemented to improve and solidify their diversity programs. The ways in which a leader of a company or organization manages diversity directly impacts the level of success the organization achieves. Leaders at all levels must foster an environment that brings together people of different ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender, and mold them into a cohesive and productive unit. A culture of tolerance for, and appreciation of diversity should be established by the senior executives of the organization. The executives must set an example with their behavior in order to make diversity a part of the organization’s culture. Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines diversity as “the quality or state of having many different forms, types...
Words: 2692 - Pages: 11
...Affirmative Action Angelia Malone MGT 434 August 29, 2011 Jeff Herring Employers and Affirmative Action Plans Affirmative Action was first established in the 1960’s and introduced by President John F. Kennedy in an effort to equalize african americans and women to prevent discrimination. Affirmative Action is important because it attempts to create an equal playing field or equal opportunities for minority groups in the nation. Affirmative Action and diversity in the workplace are very similar but have different meanings behind them. Diversity in the workplace means that the employer voluntarily promotes an inclusive workplace and Title VII permits diversity opportunities to everyone. Affirmative Action in employment is designed to eliminate discrimination in the workplace in the areas of recruitment, hiring and promotion. Each employer is responsible for developing an affirmative action plan because it is the law and because...
Words: 869 - Pages: 4
...Part 1 – Case Study - Critical Analysis of Diversity Policy You must read AXA’s diversity policy in Appendix A, and then answer the following questions: 1. How do you believe that this policy can improve AXA’s business? 2. Who are the important stakeholders within AXA who can implement and enforce this policy? 3. What actions so you think need to be taken in order to implement and maintain this policy? 4. What improvements do you believe can be made to this policy? 5. How does this policy differ from the diversity policy at your current or prior work place? Part 2 – Develop and Implement a Diversity Policy You must develop a diversity policy for Wesfarmers which includes the following components: 1. Research Wesfarmers’ diversity needs 2. Write the diversity policy 3. Implement the diversity policy 4. Review the diversity policy Your submitted documentation should clearly indicate the Stages and tasks as outlined below. Eg. Stage 1, task 3, etc. Stage 1: Research Cole’s diversity needs You should start by reviewing Wesfarmers’ existing practices and policies regarding diversity. 1. Identify potential benefits to Wesfarmers by having a diversity policy. 2. Discuss how these benefits will help Wesfarmers meets its business objectives and goals. 3. Consult with key stakeholders about their requirements for a diversity policy and evaluate their input. Stage 2: Write the diversity policy 1. Draft a diversity policy for Wesfarmers based on the research...
Words: 382 - Pages: 2
...Equalities Impact Assessment Corporate Communication Strategy and Action Plan Date: March 2009 EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT Equality Impact Assessment - Policies | | | |Title of policy being assessed: |Corporate Communication Strategy/Action Plan | |Department and Section: |Chief Executive’s | | |Public Relations | |Names and roles of officers completing this assessment: |Head of Public Relations | |Contact Telephone Numbers: |0116 305 6272 | |Date assessment completed: |5th March 2009 | |Defining the policy | | ...
Words: 2097 - Pages: 9
...comfortable with the diversity, and everyone can enjoy the differences. (osu.edu 13Nov05) A first step in this action plan is a survey to determine where the diversity in the company comes from and whether or not the company is meeting the needs of such a diverse group of employees as expected. In order to keep the survey up-to-date, it will be given to new hires. A similar survey will be given to cruise guests the last night of their stay. The information from the survey can then be entered into a database, enabling reports to be run on a scheduled, continued basis. The results of this survey will help the company to continually improve its service both to employees and customers. (thurrock.gov.uk 13Nov05) Step two involves one of the most important factors to any successful business, and that is employee input. The company will set up "idea" boxes, encouraging employees to offer opinions and ideas for improving both employee and customer relations, while recognizing that diversity is a strength that adds to the success of the company, coming from the education and experiences of the employees. A main objective of the company is to create an environment that is not only culturally diverse, that environment is also friendly. The environment is one where all employees and guests of the cruise line are comfortable with the diversity, and everyone can enjoy the differences. (osu.edu 13Nov05) A first step in this action plan is a survey to determine where the diversity in the company...
Words: 909 - Pages: 4
...Finale: Growing American Widget Staff HRM 531 Human Capital Management May 20, 2012 The Finale: Growing American Widget Staff This proposal is to introduce Spectral Staffing Services; our consulting services offer quality leadership to any organization Spectral Staffing Services, Inc. understands locating and establishing the right person for American Widget can require valuable time. Our interim managers have a diverse knowledge within their arenas, and have the support of a team of professionals who will conduct valuations by examining data through benchmarking, performance, and detecting any administrative gaps that inhibit optimum performance. Grounded on data and administrative primaries our interim manager will develop actions plans, and begin the application of performance approaches. Spectral Staffing interim manager can also support in staffing and employing as well as ease the change process by providing training and mentoring for new employees. Identification of an operational gap By conducting a gap analysis, we can compare expectations with current levels to identify if an operational gap exists within an organization. Use of the gap analysis tool to assess operational excellence in areas that include: * Human resources * Information technology * Business direction and processes Through the “identification and extrapolation of key learning issues from the literature and empirical findings, organizations can better improve their business processes...
Words: 2115 - Pages: 9