In the last of a series of meetings, the Organization of Hispanic Faculty and Staff (OHFS) Student Matters Committee met with Martha Garland, Vice Provost and Academic Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Bill Hall, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Mac Stewart, Vice-Provost and Director of the Office of Minority Affairs, to continue discussing the NAS survey results and action plans.

OHFS recommended the creation of a mechanism to oversee the implementation of plans and maintain communications between the areas of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Minority Affairs, Undergraduate Studies, and International Education and the Hispanic community. Funds have been assigned for the plan’s implementation.

Dr. Martha Garland, Undergraduate Studies, assured that funds available for scholarships have increased due to the higher numbers of students enrolled. The funds are an attractive recruitment mechanism. OHFS recommended efforts similar to the Graduate and Professional Student Visitation Day needed to recruit qualified Latino graduate students. Dr. Mac Stewart expressed the need to increase the graduate student Latino population by improving recruitment techniques and efforts.

OHFS pointed out that the participation of Latino faculty, staff and students in orientation needs to improve, perhaps, by becoming involved in activities organized by Orientation and First Year Experience. Vice President Bill Hall suggested seeking the participation of the Latino community in the development of activities and materials for Parents’ Weekend. The creation of a Parents’ weekend for Latino parents, or a distinct Latino component in the current Parent’s weekend was discussed. Funds could be provided to facilitate travel to campus for need-based scholarship parents. Dr. Stewart recommended asking for the community’s input on making available funds for visiting parents of Latino students during this weekend.

The creation of a central location which would offer services such as tutoring, cultural events, academic lectures, adaptation and development workshops (e.g. career counseling, financial management, support groups) was also discussed. This program is being envisioned as a living and learning center and would also provide students with a cultural and residential center. Dr. Garland expressed concern about retention and graduation rates and wonders whether the center would help students to access the necessary academic support services they use. She added that we need to be mindful of the Diversity Plan in relation to Latino issues. Vice President Hall expressed that the Living and Learning Center will need a minimum number of interested and committed students, and there is a need for Faculty, Staff and student organizations to participate. It was suggested that there is a greater need to seek input from the Latino community. Dr. Garland reminded the Committee that the Center must be culturally based and opened to Latin@s and non Latin@s.

Through a collaborative effort of OUAB and FYE, it was also suggested that top profile Latino personalities be invited to OSU. Their visits would highlight the presence of Latin@s on campus and promote a sense of pride and belonging among Latino students. Dr. Garland added that this could extend the Diversity Lecture Series into a variety of activities involving the Latino community. Vice President Hall suggested the cooperation of Union for expenditures.
Since ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? is a very popular communication tool on and off campus, OHFS discussed the need for new funding sources to further develop and expand the publication.

The results of this meeting have been shared with Yolanda Zepeda and José Castro, co-Chairs of OHFS. The organization hopes to be able to accomplish many of these goals within the calendar year and has expressed a desire for community members to join in these important events that impact upon the academic and general well-being of the Hispanic community at OSU.