Representatives from each of the major Student Affairs and Academic Support units
will work together to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the division. The
diversity council will create and maintain structures to support diversity and inclusion
initiatives and identify best practices and existing efforts.
Council Goals
Create and maintain structures and resources that support diversity, equity and inclusion
(DEI) initiatives
Assess systems and practices to determine a baseline related to DEI
Minimize unnecessary duplication and increase collaboration and coordination
Develop/review DEI unit goals that are in alignment with the division and university
strategic plans
Develop/review/monitor/report DEI metrics
Incorporate DEI goals and metrics into departmental blueprints, strategic plans, and
EPMS documents
Identify initiatives to improve DEI efforts that support employees and students
Develop a Student Affairs and Academic Support DEI knowledge bank to include:
Existing division practices
Best practices in student affairs
Identify DEI education and training resources:
Existing division education and training practices
University education and training practices
Higher ed and other industry best practices
Consult with internal experts as appropriate
Initial Focus Areas
Hiring and onboarding practices
Student employment and leadership opportunities
Employee and student participation in DEI training
Timeline
Develop a job description for diversity officers
Begin hiring process
Identify available resources to carry out DEI work
Set the first meeting for the Student Affairs and Academic Support Diversity Council
meeting
The co-chairs will:
Begin discovery/listening phase of those that have contacted them so far
Identify potential university partners (e.g., Office of the Vice President for Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion)
Develop a draft action plan for the diversity council to review and adjust
The council will:
Meet on a regular basis. The first meeting of the Student Affairs and Academic Support
Diversity Council is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 26, 2022
Finalize action plans for the division for the initial areas of focus. Including assessment
tools unit and individual self-awareness and baseline, training, and evaluation tools
to include unit blueprints and EPMS
Student Affairs and Academic Support units will complete the following steps for the
initial areas of focus:
Complete an assessment and establish a DEI baseline
Develop unit action plans to include self-awareness, baseline assessment evaluations
that use existing tools such as employee EPMS and unit Blueprints
Develop employee training and assessment plan
Pilot with volunteer units/departments
Implement across the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support
Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.