Millennium Project researchers agree planned administrative position needed to be cut

The authors of a recent report that found that women and minorities working at UA have been subject to pay inequities say the recent decision not to hire a vice provost for diversity will create a sense of responsibility across the campus.

Members of the Millennium Project - a report issued last year that found female professors on average make $77,435 compared to the average male professor's salary of $86,514 - said they were not consulted when the original decision was made to hire an administrator.

An overlap in the release time of the Millennium Project and the announcement of the vice-provost position last fall caused many to assume the Millennium Project was responsible for the recommendation.

"Everyone said it came out of the Millennium Project, it wasn't · we didn't want to be connected," said Myra Dinnerstein, co-chair of the Millennium Project. "We thought the position would have been a very large task to handle."

Those involved with groups targeting diversity issues on campus believe the $120,000 salary for the vice-provost position would be better used to fund diversity projects than fund person.

"It is an institutionalized responsibility," said Jeni Hart, graduate associate for the Millennium Project.

A lack of support, not a lack of funds, was the reason why the new vice provost position was revoked, Saundra Taylor, vice president of Campus Life, said last week.

"I think it is important to spread the responsibility for diversity throughout the university rather than place it in the hands of one individual," Dinnerstein said.

Regardless of the decision to repeal the new position, Provost George Davis said he plans to continue to make campus diversity issues a priority by working with the Millennium Project to disperse funds originally granted to the vice-provost position.

"We're moving into more consultation of how best to use the monies," Davis said.

In an attempt to build diversity, Davis had announced the decision to create a vice-provost position at November's Campus Town Hall.

"We talked about the possibility of the position," Hart said. "But (we) felt it would dilute the importance of diversity issues."

Davis said he acted too soon by announcing the creation of the position, but added that his eagerness was based on his commitment to create a diverse campus.

Other plans to help the Millennium Project attain its diversity goals are to stress the importance of retaining and attracting faculty members, especially minority faculty.

"We have to keep (diversity issues) as a very high priority," Davis said.