Cornell President Hunter Rawlings issued the following statement today on administrative changes associated with the Office of the Associate Provost for Human Relations. It was announced Nov. 12 that Winnie Taylor is leaving that post, effective Jan. 1: "As you know, Professor Winnie Taylor will be returning to the law faculty in July 1999, and she will be taking a well-earned sabbatical leave beginning in January 1999. After much thought and discussion with the provost and in consultation with Professor Taylor, we have decided to make some changes to the role of that office.

"Professor Taylor's experience in the current role has demonstrated that, in order to increase the diversity of the campus, especially in the faculty ranks, the incumbent must have the time and resources to address the critical issues of faculty recruitment and retention. We have made some progress in this area over the last decade, but I am far from satisfied. It is indeed possible to recruit a more diversified faculty to Ithaca, even in our relatively remote location. I have repeatedly expressed our institutional commitment, and my personal commitment as well, to affirmative action, and I am convinced that if we make this a concerted action across all our colleges we will be successful in finding highly qualified faculty in every academic discipline. This must be the first priority of Professor Taylor's successor, who will report directly to me on this agenda.

"Provost Don M. Randel will be initiating the search for the position in the immediate days ahead.

"The administrative realignment I am announcing today is designed to permit this office to concentrate its efforts on making sustained progress on the issue of faculty diversity. The provost will be considering how best to meet this need in the months ahead and would welcome your comments and suggestions. In the interim, Professor Robert Harris, special assistant to the provost, will continue to act as senior advisor on these matters and will assist the provost on faculty recruitment matters until a successor to Professor Taylor is named.

"For many years, the Office of Equal Opportunity has had the lead administrative responsibility for the development of the university's affirmative action plan, complaint resolution, staff diversity and campus training and awareness on issues of diversity and inclusion. Effective Jan. 1, 1999, this office will report to Mary George Opperman, vice president for human resources. The search for a director of the Office of Equal Opportunity will begin immediately.

"Also effective Jan. 1, 1999, responsibility for the function of Student Disability Services will be moved to the Division of Student and Academic Services. Services to staff and faculty with disabilities will continue to be provided through the Office of Human Resources Disability Management Program. The move of Student Disability Services to the division reporting to Vice President Susan H. Murphy will more closely align this office with student needs and provide better opportunities for coordination with the full array of campus life issues.

"In addition, the Peer Education in Human Relations program (PEHR) will report to the Division of Student and Academic Services. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center (LGBTRC) will continue to have a dual reporting relationship to both the Human Relations office and to Vice President Murphy.

"Diversity on our campus has been and continues to be a high priority for Cornell, and we remain committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty, staff and student communities. At the same time, we must work together to create an environment of inclusion and acceptance. The organizational changes I am announcing today are designed to improve our ability to continue to make real and sustained progress in this critically important area.