Location: Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Employment Condition: At Will

Job Description:

Bemidji State University (BSU) and NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE (NTC) invite qualified applicants to join our team as the Campus Diversity Officer. BSU and NTC provide a rigorous academic environment with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, robust, outdoor culture.  The proximity to the lake and the surrounding north woods allows easy access to an assortment of recreation.  BSU and NTC are members of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities. 

BSU’s vision is to educate people to lead inspired lives. To accomplish BSU’s vision, the University prioritizes creating a culture in which diversity is embraced and all people are safe, welcome, and validated. BSU also prioritizes increasing engagement with Indigenous communities to become a destination university.  BSU enrolls around 5,000 students and offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU’s Shared Fundamental Values include civic engagement and leadership, international and multicultural understanding, belief in the power of the liberal arts, and environmental stewardship.

NTC has prepared students for fulfilling careers in high-demand fields for more than 50 years. The college’s accessible, affordable, hands-on programs also help the region’s employers meet their ever-growing need for a highly skilled workforce. NTC serves more than 1,000 students with an excellent education, an open-enrollment policy and affordable tuition. Students may pursue nearly 40 degree, diploma and certificate programs in six distinct career paths. Classes are offered on campus, online, or as a combination of both.

The Campus Diversity Officer (CDO) provides unique, creative and strategic leadership to empower BSU and NTC to become more sensitive to and aware of local, state and national issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion in hopes of  creating more just living, learning and working communities. Collaborating with others, the CDO supports the development, delivery, and communication of programs, services and curricula that address racial and social justice, and other interests and needs of all BSU and NTC stakeholders. In addition, the CDO will partner with local communities, organizations and entities to ensure that our historical and unique demographics, along with our strong regional culture, will be visible and present in our campus identities. The CDO is also responsible for providing oversight for Affirmative Action in the hiring process and Equal Opportunity in compliance with Federal and State laws, as well as Title IX compliance. This position involves significant discretion and substantial involvement in the development, interpretation, and implementation of University and College strategic planning and policy development – with a focus on faculty and staff engagement, and student academic achievement. This position involves frequent interaction and collaboration with other Minnesota State System CDOs. This executive level position reports directly to the president.

Responsibilities of the CDO include:

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  
  
  
  • Provides leadership for and coordinates the development of campus strategic diversity plans. Provides follow-up, accountability and best practice modeling.
  • Serves as an expert resource and consultant to students, staff and faculty at all levels of the University and College for diversity, equity and inclusion-related initiatives and the development and implementation of culturally relevant practices and curriculum.
  • Chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committees.
  • Develops and sustains working relationships with diverse and underrepresented groups to achieve objectives of mutual interest.
  • Serves on relevant campus committees to develop strategies that promote the campuses as places of multiculturalism, equity and inclusion.
  • Builds and sustains relationships and effects change across many campus departments including Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Student Life & Success (including Student Conduct and Housing and Residential Life), and Athletics for diversity, equity and inclusion concerns.

• Training and Education
  
  
  
  • Develops and delivers training for search committees that addresses diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and compliance issues.
  • Monitors and contributes to the education and training provided for faculty, staff, and students as well as for those who are a part of investigation processes.
  • Recruits decision makers and ensures that each receives necessary training for their role.

• Affirmative Action, Recruitment, and Retention of Faculty and Staff
  
  
  
  • Provides leadership for and coordinates the development of a campus-wide affirmative action plan. Provides follow-up, accountability and best practice modeling.
  • Provides leadership and oversight to ensure compliance with the system’s federal and state compliance obligations, including Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities statutes and regulations.
  • Ensures dissemination of multiple and visible resources to the campus community on ADA, discrimination and harassment.
  • Oversees and coordinates response to complaints alleging violations of EEO, ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and conducts investigations, coordinates investigations, or hires an outside investigator when necessary.
  • Ensures that civil-rights-based and Title IX grievance procedures are in place to address complaints of discrimination, Title IX and/or other sexual violence-related misconduct and that preventive measures are in place to manage reports of disability-based discrimination.
  • Collaborates as necessary with internal offices and external agencies to process complaints and address the concerns of complainants and respondents.

• Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting
  
  
  
  • Collects and analyzes data that provide information useful to support and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
  • Collects and analyzes recruitment, retention, persistence, and completion data that can inform programming and services for all students.
  • Widely distributes (electronically and in-person presentations) data such as racial and diversity mapping, student retention and persistence, and faculty/staff recruitment and retention.
  • Reports on progress toward achieving the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan for Diversity.

• Student Access & Success
  
  
  
  • Supports and participates in initiatives that ensure the retention and completion of students who are Indigenous and People of Color; Lesbian, Gay, Bi-/Pan-sexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+); and/or people who are disabled.
  • Collaborates with Academic Affairs, Student Life and Success and others to ensure a welcoming, inclusive and success-oriented environment for all students.
  • Supports the exploration and sharing of best practices related to improve retention, persistence, and completion for at risk and under-represented students.

• Faculty and Staff Diversity
  
  
  
  • Develops, supports and participates in initiatives that ensure the retention and career success of Indigenous, People of Color and other diverse faculty.
  • Collaborates appropriately to develop innovative strategies to successfully recruit, employ and retain a workforce reflective of the changing state and national demographics.

• Supervision
  
  
  
  • Responsible for staffing and managing the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to include all facets of normal supervision. Ensures the office is fully staffed to meet the needs of the campus community, particularly student needs.  Evaluates employee performance, reward or discipline employees, and effectively recommend the promotion, suspension, discharge, or change of status according to performance.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution and five (5) years of relevant experience in either designing, implementing, sustaining and/or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or services;

   OR

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution and nine (9) years of relevant experience in either designing, implementing, sustaining and/or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or services.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D., J.D., or other terminal degre
• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit or public sectors administering relevant programs and services with affirmative action/diversity responsibilities, including civil and human rights.
• Associated with national diversity and equity organization
• Knowledge of and ability to apply the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) “Standards of Professional Practice for Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education”.
• Knowledge of and appreciation for American Indian culture and ways of life and a proven ability to effectively work with American Indian students, faculty and staff.
• Three (3) or more years of demonstrated experience serving as a resource and consultant, working collaboratively with multiple constituents.
• Experience with curriculum development.

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of these minimum and preferred qualifications.

Other Requirements:

Other considerations:

• Must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.
• Employment for this position is covered by the Administrator’s Plan ß click for details about the plan.
• Official transcript(s) must be provided to Human Resources upon hire.
• In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.
• BSU and NTC are tobacco free workplaces (see policy).

Apply online:   https://bemidjistate.peopleadmin.com/  

A complete application shall include the following attachments:

• Cover letter, which addresses the required qualifications and your specific interest in working at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College.
• Resume / Curriculum Vitae.

Inquiries:

Travis Greene, Associate Vice President for Student Life & Success

Phone: (218) 755-2075

Email: travis.greene@bemidjistate.edu

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application, please contact Teresa Hanson at teresa.hanson@bemidjistate.edu.

About:

UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

The greater Bemidji community has a population of 25,000 and serves as a regional center for education, commerce, recreation, health care, and the arts.

In this Northwoods setting, students, staff and faculty have a variety of activities at their fingertips. Possessing all the charm and character of a college town, Bemidji remains a tight-knit community of good neighbors and engaged citizens who always come out to cheer for the Bemidji State Beavers. While the city of Bemidji — named after the Ojibwe Chief Shaynowishkung (nicknamed Bemidji) — is home to a diverse population of more than 15,000 people, it serves a regional population of more than 100,000.

Located between three American Indian reservations – Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth – students at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College have the opportunity to experience a dynamic local culture and history. Bemidji also sits at the center of the legends of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The famous statues of Paul and Babe greet students as they drive in from the south along Lake Bemidji.

Though quaint and historic, the city offers the urban conveniences upon which college students rely. Bemidji State and Northwest Tech are both conveniently located minutes away from affordable restaurants, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores, city parks and more. Small, locally owned shops and art sculptures line the streets of downtown Bemidji, while national chains can be found in and around the Bemidji area, including an uptown selection of department stores and restaurants.

The thriving downtown community presents ample opportunities for engagement off-campus. Among other things, there are fine-dining restaurants, cafes, and a natural foods co-op in downtown Bemidji. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows; restaurants and lounges offer weekly live music performances; the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits; and annual events such as the Loop the Lake Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Blue Ox Marathon, Bemidji Winterfest, and The Minnesota Finlandia bring the community together.

For those who love the outdoors, there are wooded, multi-use trail systems within minutes of campus and community parks with walking trails, playgrounds and a skate park. Lake Bemidji State Park and its miles of navigable trails is located directly across the lake from BSU, and the Buena Vista Ski Area — just 12 miles north of campus — offers downhill skiing and campus-sponsored student transportation in the winter months. Further, the Mississippi River Headwaters is a mere 45 minutes from Bemidji.

For further information, visit our websites at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu and https://www.ntcmn.edu

Review a “special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise” at Bemidji 2.0

Bemidji State University / Northwest Technical College are Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employers and Educators.  This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Benefits Info:

For information regarding benefits: https://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/human-resources/current-employees/benefits-2/

This position is included in the Minnesota State Administrator/State Managerial Plan.  A copy of the contract can be found at: 

https://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/human-resources/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2020/07/2019-2021-Administrators-Plan-Final.pdf

Desired Start Date: 07/01/2021