Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force

The President’s Task Force for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is charged with immediate intervention to assess the state of the University in regard to diversity and inclusion (specifically race) and formalize the action plan to institute immediate and transformational change.

The task force will report to the President regarding actions the University will take relative to (1) access and equity with regard to admission and hiring; (2) formal and informal curricula in each of the university’s colleges and schools; (3) organizational structure; and (4) campus climate. The panel will further articulate a plan of action as driven by assessment.

Among the specific duties of the task force:

1. Design a mechanism by which these four areas are connected to the work of the schools and colleges and other action plans, committees and task forces;
2. Recommend priorities and timelines for implementation of the next steps;
3. Oversee the development of measures of success and methods for evaluating impact;
4. Implement a two-way communications plan that will keep campus constituencies informed about the work and charge of the task force and keep it transparent, accessible, and informed about the campus climate.

 The action plan will include (at a minimum) the following:

1. Curriculum Reform - Each academic program will evaluate its curricular content and provide an enhancement plan. The faculty development office will develop a plan for faculty education directed at teaching this content.
2. University-wide Diversity Training - We will implement diversity training for every member of our university community with the expectation that this training is not a moment in time but a series of ongoing learning opportunities.
3. Review of Admissions Practices - Each program will review its admissions practices and pipeline programs. We must have a diverse student population.
4. Review of Hiring Practices - We will develop specific strategies and more intentional hiring practices for the development of a diverse faculty and staff.
5. Partnership with Other Institutions - We will reach out to higher education leaders in our region to address issues of curricular gaps at early stages, educational access and inequity. We will advocate for system-wide change in higher education and, more specifically, health professions and medical education.