PULLMAN, Wash. – A Washington State University Extension project aimed at increasing diversity in the country’s land-grant university system has garnered national recognition.
The WSU Extension’s Change Agent States for Diversity Project team is a member of a consortium that has won the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension award for Multistate Efforts for 2009.
The Change Agent States (CAS) project is a consortium of land-grant institutions in 18 states collaborating to share technical skills and training. The consortium is working to develop successful models and systemic-change approaches to support greater diversity throughout the land grant system. For the past several years, the consortium has shared challenges, struggles and accomplishments as they worked at respective institutions to initiate sustainable system change related to diversity.
“The presentation of this award to the Change Agent States for Diversity Consortium shows that CSREES acknowledges the importance of the land-grant university system to build capacity to function inclusively and effectively in a multicultural world. The CAS project is a first step toward emphasizing the value of integrating culturally competent practices throughout land-grant institutions,” said Mary Katherine Deen, diversity director for WSU Extension.
CSREES recognizes land-grant institutions that have outstanding contributions aligned with CSREES strategic goals and support of the USDA mission.
The CAS Consortium will be recognized at the annual CSREES Day of Appreciation, Oct. 6 2009 in Washington D.C.
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