Diversity and Inclusion Committee
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee, formerly known as the Racial Diversity Team, has been working to develop a campus climate on race strategic plan to ensure that diversity and inclusion efforts are a fundamental part of the College. This emphasis on race also recognizes the intersections of identities and experiences essential to our institutional goals. The committee will continue to work in partnership with the associate dean for diversity and inclusion to monitor institutional progress, and implement programs, and initiatives.
Campus Climate on Race Strategic Plan
The campus climate on race strategic plan has been submitted to the senior leadership team. Goals include creating opportunities to build capacity for diversity and inclusion by offering workshops, trainings and programs, increasing interdepartmental communication and collaboration, addressing issues of access and equity in employment, and improving the experience of all students and employees of the College.
Campus Climate Workshop Series
The campus climate workshop series provides opportunities for all members of the college to develop the awareness, knowledge, and skills vital to transforming the culture of our institution. In collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Lodi-Smith, assistant vice president for academic affairs, we were able to offer the following:
- Talk About, Think About, & Act on Implicit Bias, presented by Dr. Nathan Arbuckle, Department Psychology (fall 2019)
- Faculty Teaching Retreat in collaboration with the Office Mission & Identity, There is Room: Intentionally Incorporating Race into Course Content (fall 2019)
- Talk About, Think About, and Act on Implicit Bias, hosted by Facilities Management (2 workshops, spring 2020)
The following workshops had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Microaggressions Are Not So Subtle: The Verbal, Behavioral, and Environmental Indignities!, presented by Isabelle Oritz, University of Buffalo, Intercultural & Diversity Center
- Facilitating Difficult Conversations: Calling One Into A Conversation, Not Calling One Out, presented by: robbie routenberg, InciteChange
Bias Resource & Response Team (BRRT)
The divisions of academic and student affairs have convened a bias resource and response team. The purpose of the group is to develop proactive strategies and response protocols that support a positive campus climate. The BRT has participated in a bias response training, reviewed our process for addressing bias incidents reported by our students and staff, and researched best practices to improve our policy.
Additional Initiatives
The office of diversity and inclusion is excited about the opportunity to continue this work with campus partners that include:
- Kathleen Brucato, associate dean of students and coordinator for Title IX, to provide programs that scaffold diversity beyond new student orientation
- Dr. Thomas Chambers, dean of the college of arts and sciences, to meet with the Minority Faculty and Staff Affinity Group to develop a critical race studies/ethnic studies minor
- Rich Kennedy and the Undergraduate Student Association (USA) to expand the capacity of the Diversity Committee
- Through a collaboration between the Office of Academic Affairs and the Center for Online Learning & Innovation (COLI), a resource directory for teaching about race in the classroom
- Linda Walleshauser, associate vice president for human resources, to develop a diversity in hiring policy and training for search committees