HB2864: Relating to cultural competence at post-secondary institutions of education

HB2864: Relating to cultural competence at post-secondary institutions of education

Introduction:

In 2017, with leadership from State Representative Teresa Alonso Leon, the State of Oregon passed HB2864, requiring the University of Oregon and other Higher Education institutions in our State to report on the processes established to institutionalize cultural competency standards for employees and the institution. Fortunately, the IDEAL framework and the Diversity Action Plans provide a good foundation for the work that lies ahead. Indeed, HB2864 provides an accountability structure that invites deeper levels of personal and institutional accountability.

October 2020 Oregon Digital Summit on HB2864

HB2864 Requirements:

Each public institution of higher education shall establish a process for recommending, and providing oversight for the implementation of, cultural competency standards for the public institution of higher education and the institution’s employees.

The process established must:

  • Include a broad range of institutional perspectives;
  • Give equal weight to the perspectives of administrators, faculty members, staff and students;
  • Require that the institution provide continuing training and development opportunities that foster the ability of the institution’s faculty, staff and administration to meet cultural competency standards;
  • Propose institution-wide goals that seek to improve the cultural inclusion climate for students, faculty, staff and administration from diverse backgrounds;
  • Require preparation of a biennial report that is presented to the appropriate board regarding the institution’s progress toward achieving the goals
  • Recommend mechanisms for assessing how well the institution meets cultural competency standards; and
  • Ensure that the institution clearly communicates to new faculty, staff and administrators the institution’s commitment to including meeting cultural competency standards in professional development.

President Schill’s Charge for UO’s HB2864 Committee:

  • Develop a plan that satisfies each of the HB 2864 process requirements.
  • Develop an inventory of actions we are already taking across the institution to achieve the objectives of HB 2864.
  • Develop a working definition of “cultural competency”.
  • Develop list of campus constituencies and solicit their views on training needs, goals and assessment mechanisms.

UO’s HB2864 Design Committee:

  • Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh
  • Kevin Marbury
  • Mark Schmelz
  • Melanie Muenzer
  • Greg Stripp
  • Sierra Dawson
  • Jennifer Winters
  • Tracy Bars