Section 11-406 - Plan for program of cultural diversity. - Maryland Statutes

§ 11-406. Plan for program of cultural diversity.
 

(a)  "Cultural diversity" defined.- In this section, "cultural diversity" means the inclusion of those racial and ethnic groups and individuals that are or have been underrepresented in higher education. 

(b)  In general.-  

(1) (i) Each public institution of higher education in the State shall develop and implement a plan for a program of cultural diversity. 

(ii) If an institution of higher education already has a program of cultural diversity, the institution of higher education shall develop and implement a plan for improving the program. 

(iii) A plan developed and implemented under this subsection shall include an implementation strategy and a time line for meeting goals within the plan. 

(2) A plan developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include: 

(i) A description of the way the institution addresses cultural diversity among its student, faculty, and staff populations; 

(ii) A description of how the institution plans to enhance cultural diversity, if improvement is needed; 

(iii) A process for reporting campus-based hate crimes, as defined under Title 10, Subtitle 3 of the Criminal Law Article and consistent with federal requirements under 20 U.S.C. 1092(f), known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act; and 

(iv) A summary of any resources, including State grants, needed by the institution to effectively recruit and retain a culturally diverse student body. 

(3) A plan developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall enhance cultural diversity programming and sensitivity to cultural diversity through instruction and training of the student body, faculty, and staff at the institution of higher education. 

(c)  Submission to governing body.-  

(1) On or before May 1 of each year, each institution shall submit the plan developed under subsection (b) of this section to the governing body of the institution for the governing body's review. 

(2) On or before August 1 of each year, the governing body of an institution shall submit a progress report regarding the institution's implementation of its plan to the Commission. 

(d)  Review by Commission; report.-  

(1) The Commission shall review the progress report submitted by each governing body under subsection (c) of this section to monitor compliance with the diversity goals of the State Plan for Higher Education. 

(2) On or before October 1 of each year, the Commission shall submit a report, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House Committee on Ways and Means on the extent to which the institutions of higher education in the State are in compliance with the diversity goals of the State Plan for Higher Education. 
 

[2008, chs. 579, 580.]