Where are the Asian American Staff at UIC?

On Thursday, February 28, the UIC Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Asian Americans (CCSAA) held an Asian American Community Forum to bring awareness of various issues significantly affecting not only the Asian American (but all) students, faculty, staff, and alumni at UIC. Approximately 60 people attended with a huge turnout from students.

While there were many issues presented, one particular concerning issue that stood out to me was the severe lack of Asian American staff in student service positions. I've been at UIC for nearly eight years now, and I've always made it a point to connect and build community with other Asian American faculty and staff. When thinking about those I knew - especially in student affairs - I could count them all on two hands.

Elvin Chan of AARCC presents the dismal numbers of
Asian American staff at UIC.

During the Community Forum, Chan presented the numbers from 2010 data (2012 data will soon be released). It was unacceptable, horrifying, and depressing. My feelings soon went into anger and frustration of WHY?

Some brainstorming of why there aren't more Asian American staff in student service positions:

• There is still not a solid pipeline for undergrads to understand student affairs work as a career.
• Lack of mentoring for Asian American staff
• 'Asian American Glass Ceiling' effect for those few who are working in student affairs; not being promoted; thus, leaving the field
• More and more, colleges and universities are pushing industry-specific career paths due to economy; for example, major in K-12 education, so you can be a teacher. Student affairs careers have always had the challenge of - what is the major for student affairs? It usually comes from your student leadership in co-curricular activities and then, if you're lucky, an entry level first job at a higher ed institution. Or maybe, you'll enter an M.Ed graduate program.
• Lack of tracking with data. I now would LOVE to know the data from multiple years. Let's go back to 2000. Then, we need to make this public in a number of spaces with strategic planning for changing these numbers.
• People don't see the need for Asian American staff, because they don't count Asian Americans in race and diversity issues. This is still part of the Model Minority Myth that continues today.
• People think there aren't Asian American staff for this job pool - wrong. By doing a national search with target marketing with Asian American communities and/or being open to Asian Americans from other fields with transferable skills, there will be qualified candidates.

This is a human resources and diversity issue. It is also a retention, recruitment, and graduation issue for students. From the Forum, it was clear, that the sentiment is not that just because there is an Asian American staff person, all Asian American students will be funneled to them. No. However, some to many students might. And even, some to many non-Asian American students will also gain great advice from them due to the other skills, talents, and experiences.

Until now, I've never been an active participant of the CCSAA, but this issue has made me want to be involved. If you want to be involved, I welcome you to join me. CCSAA meets the first Wednesday of every month during the academic year.