As part of a series of diversity forums, representatives from four cross-disciplinary programs at Iowa State will present their program goals and objectives at a noon forum on Wednesday in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.

At the “Diversity in Academic Programs” forum, Provost John Kozak and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Elizabeth Hoffman will respond to comments by Valerie Grim, interim chairwoman of the African-American Studies Program; Smokey McKinney, a member of the American Indian Studies Program committee; Linda Galyon, chairwoman of the Women Studies Program and Hector Avalos, Latino Studies Program chairman.

“This program will be more focused than the other diversity forums. It will specifically cover the programs — a more ‘in-depth’ forum,” said Pat Miller, Committee on Lectures program coordinator.

After program representatives give brief comments about their programs, Kozak and Hoffman will provide an administrative perspective on the comments before discussion is open to the general audience, Miller said.

“We will talk about what our programs are and where they are heading,” Avalos said.

Tahira Hira, a professor of human development and family studies, will moderate the forum.

Avalos said the Latino Studies Program, which began in 1994, is the newest interdisciplinary program. “I think the program has been very successful since 1994,” Avalos said.

ISU students can receive a women’s studies major, said Zora Zimmerman, associate dean of the College of LAS. But there are not separate majors for the other three programs. Students can receive a major in interdisciplinary studies and have a focus in one of the other programs.

The diversity forum is sponsored by the ISU Diversity Steering Committee, the Office of the President and the Committee on Lectures.