NEWS
Plan 2008 author retires
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by Nick Penzenstadler
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
As she announced her retirement Tuesday, University of Wisconsin's vice provost for climate and diversity expressed doubt over whether the goals of Plan 2008 can ever be achieved.
Bernice Durand, who will leave at the end of June after 37 years at UW, is the second administrator in a week to announce departure from the university. Senior special assistant to the chancellor LaMarr Billups is leaving for Georgetown University in May.
In her role at UW, Durand was instrumental in implementing the university's first diversity plan in 1988 and, ten years later, worked to create the large-scale Plan 2008 project — a university-wide initiative to increase diversity among the student and faculty bodies by 2008.
However, with Plan 2008's aggressive goals, Durand said UW would likely not reach the target numbers originally laid out in 1998.
"I don't think the goals of 2008 are likely to perfectly be achieved — it'll be a long, long time, if ever," Durand said in an interview Tuesday. "We're all smart people, and they have good intentions, yet we're not a utopia, so there's always work to be done."
Durand first joined UW as a lecturer and became a physics professor specializing in particle theory and mathematical physics. She took on several leadership roles in climate and diversity before being named the first vice provost for climate in diversity in the school's history.
"When your title is diversity and climate, you know there are literally hundreds of people working to make it more welcoming to people of color and for all kinds of people who otherwise might be underrepresented," Durand said.
Durand acts as the link between several entities on campus, working to take strides toward improving diversity.
Provost Patrick Farrell said Durand was key to the collaborative diversity efforts at UW.
"She was the first to really make a more campus-collaborative effort on diversity and climate," Farrell said. "We had some campus-wide activity, but in the past it wasn't always really well-coordinated — she had to go make some new connections and create cross-campus collaboration in areas where they didn't exist before."
Farrell added a committee is being formed to launch a search to fill the position.
Durand played a large role in the search for a new chancellor in 2000, and said helping to hire John Wiley was one of the high points in her career.
During her extended teaching career, Durand said she was fortunate to witness the impacting process of education.
"Looking back on 37 years of teaching, if you're a natural teacher — which I believe I am — the highest points are when students understand what you're teaching and it has clicked for them," Durand said. "It's wonderful when you know you've accomplished something."
Michael Thornton, faculty director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service, worked with Durand on the Diversity Oversight Committee where he said he was able to see firsthand Durand's drive for progress.
"She is one of those people who has worked on diversity issues seemingly forever. We wouldn't be as far along except for her," Thornton said. "She's so dedicated. We're really going to miss her with her retirement. She helped plant the seed for what we have today and the rest is up to us."
MultiCultural Student Coalition executive staff member Katrina Flores said Durand has worked diligently with the cultural student organization to improve the diversity climate at UW.
"Bernice has been a really good confidante and ally of supporters of diversity programs on this campus. While it will be a loss, we're happy for her," Flores said. "There'll be some really good candidates looking to take that position over."
Durand said she has intentionally made no specific plans for her retirement after June.
"I have not led a planful life, and so far, it's been absolutely wonderful," Durand said. "I don't worry — I'm not one of those strategic planners."
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 10:50am):
Dr. Durand taught my Physics for Poets class several years ago. She was a wonderful instructor, and, although I've graduated since, I'm sure she was a thoughful administrator. Best wishes!
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 6:58pm):
Ok time for a new plan-2028.
-Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 1:59pm):
I wonder if she and Billups are leaving because of all the scandals.
Anonymous (April 1, 2007 @ 9:20pm):
Probably. Rumor has it that the Barrows trial will be devastating for the UW administration. Highly embarrassing material will become public.
Anonymous (April 3, 2007 @ 9:19pm):
such as?
Anonymous (April 9, 2007 @ 3:04pm):
Some kind of grade fraud scandal, at least that's the rumor floating around.
Anonymous (April 15, 2007 @ 9:45pm):
OK. That explains Barrows tough letter to the Badger Herald a few days ago. How bad will this be?
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