Developing a Diversity-Competent Workforce: The UA Libraries’ Experience

Abstract

ABSTRACT Developing and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve is a central value and a customer-based business decision of the University of Arizona (UA) Libraries. In response to data collected through climate surveys, the UA Libraries' Diversity Committee has been systematically working to improve the organization's climate for diversity. One activity undertaken was the development and incorporation of diversity competencies into the Libraries' hiring and training processes. This article explores the importance of a diversity-competent workforce, shares the UA Libraries' experiences in diversity competency development, and suggests why and how other libraries can engage in a similar process. KEYWORDS: competency-based trainingcultural competenciesdiversity competencieshiringorganizational climatepersonnel Notes The UA Libraries' "MROC Draft Additions to Guidelines for Selection Committees" (2009), which includes the diversity definition, position description sample, diversity competencies, interview and reference questions, and MROC Guide for Assessing Diversity Attitudes/Behaviors, can be accessed at http://intranet.library.arizona.edu/xf/mroc/docs.html. If you are interested in learning more about any aspect of the diversity competencies process, please contact the Millennium Report Oversight Committee at mroc@u.library.arizona.edu.