Select Page

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will honor the recipients of the 11th annual Regents’ Diversity Awards on Feb. 8 in Madison at the Board of Regents meeting.

These awards recognize individuals and programs that foster access and success for students who are members of historically underrepresented populations.

At UW Oshkosh, the Titan Advantage Program (TAP) will be awarded. TAP began in 2014 as a group of concerned faculty and staff on campus were addressing the issues of recruitment, retention and persistence to graduation of underrepresented students. A 15-member team made up of experts on academic persistence, success, resources and pedagogy, particularly as it pertains to students of color, created the summer bridge program for incoming underrepresented, low-income and first-generation college students to earn four to six college credits the summer prior to their first year at UW Oshkosh.

Sylvia Carey-Butler

“The remarkable people and teams we selected for this year’s Regents’ Diversity Awards are making an impact on their campus to increase opportunity for all student populations,” said Regent Mark Tyler, who chaired the special Regents’ committee to determine the recipients. “We are delighted to recognize their profound dedication to building partnerships to support retention and student success.”

To date at UW Oshkosh, 137 students of color have successfully completed the program, which is coordinated by Mai Khou Xiong, assistant director and program manager for access and retention in Student Achievement Services within Academic Support of Inclusive Excellence, a division led by Associate Vice Chancellor Sylvia Carey-Butler.

UW Oshkosh has increased the enrollment of students of color from 11.4 percent in 2013 to 15.7 percent in 2018. Evidence shows that TAP has played a significant role in attracting and enrolling increased numbers of students of color even if they do not participate in the program, because TAP students are recruiting family and friends to enroll at UW Oshkosh.

Mai Khou Xiong

Award recipients were selected using the following criteria:

  • Sustainable positive impact on equity and diversity, leading to positive institutional change.
  • Accountability demonstrated through routine assessment and feedback to promote forward movement on equity and diversity goals.
  • Intersections across multiple dimensions of diversity.
  • Collaborations with other units, departments, or communities–within the institution and beyond.

Each recipient will receive $5,000 to support professional development or continue the program being honored. Educators from UW-Eau Claire and UW-Milwaukee also are among this year’s award recipients.

Read more: