2. One of the major
integrating themes
within the university’s
plan is Cultures,
Diversity, and Inequality
both locally and globally.
University
Strategic Plan
To be broadly recognized
as among the nation’s
leading public
universities: preeminent
in research, excellent in
teaching, and committed
to community.
3. Building an Inclusive, Diverse, and
Cohesive Culture
Diversity ≠ Inclusivity
● Rutgers University is known
for its diversity, but diversity
does not equate to
inclusivity. An institution
can be diverse while its
members remain isolated
from each other and
marginalized.
● The strategic plan emphasizes
that, ”Our classrooms and
communities must be places in
which all members, regardless of
culture, race, and socioeconomic
background, can exchange ideas
freely and safely” (University
Strategic Plan, 43).
4. Initiatives
● Establish a University-level office for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and
create representative councils on each campus to monitor and advise this
office on matters of diversity and inclusion.
○ Led by a University-wide Vice president, and Vice chancellors for diversity and inclusion on
each campus and in RBHS who report back.
● Develop a system to monitor the proportion of faculty and staff from
underrepresented groups from recruitment to retention.
○ With this system, regular reports will be provided to shared governance and University
leadership.
5. Initiatives (con’t)
● Provide directed peer mentoring for underrepresented faculty and staff
○ to promote effective career development.
● Recognize that successful programs to enhance diversity and inclusion
start with the right “tone at the top.”
○ Model and communicate core values through participation from high-level administrators,
engagement with student organizations, and diversity-focused events.
6. How Our Peers are Integrating Diversity &
Inclusion
Penn State
University
A Framework to
Foster Diversity
Texas A&M
University
Diversity Plan
Ohio State
University
National Conference
on Diversity, Race &
Learning
Iowa State
University
Gender Balance
Project
7. Penn State
A Framework to Foster Diversity
● Was initially launched in
1998.
● One of the first universities
to implement diversity goals
in their strategic planning.
● It is currently completing its
third five-year cycle.
● Last year Penn State received
its third Higher Education in
Excellence Award.
Source: http://equity.psu.edu/diversity-strategic-
planning
8.
9. Texas A&M
Diversity Plan
● In 2010, Texas A&M launched
what they feel is an
“ambitious” Diversity Plan
with the purpose of
enhancing accountability,
climate and equity within the
university.
● All the strategies, plans and
processes must promote
progress in diversity
integration.
Source:
http://diversity.tamu.edu/Diversity-Plan
10.
11. Ohio State
University
National Conference on Diversity,
Race & Learning
● Two part conference
beginning on May 2nd, 2016.
● Includes a pre-conference
diversity training session.
● During the main conference
keynote speakers will be,
“talking across boundaries of
any kind – age, race,
geography, faith, orientation”
(University website).
Source: http://odi.osu.edu/about/conferences/national-
conference-on-diversity-race-and-learning/
12.
13. Iowa State
University
Gender Balance Project
● Examines the membership of
appointed county and
municipal boards in the
state.
● The project collects annual
data to track the large gap
between men and women
members.
● Latest data shows:
○ “Seventeen cities have
achieved gender balance on the
nine boards and commissions
examined”(University website).
Source:
https://cattcenter.las.iastate.edu/catt-research/gender-
balance-project/
14. How Our Aspirational Peers are Integrating
Diversity & Inclusion
University of
Michigan
Diversity Summit Lunch on Us
University of
Illinois UCLA
Pipeline Program
University of
Wisconsin
Diversity
Dialogues
15. Diversity Summit
● The university created a
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Strategic Planning Initiative.
● As part of this Initiative, U-M
hosted a campuswide Diversity
Summit for the first time on
November 4-13, 2015.
● The summit included events
aimed at promoting
conversations and ideas about
diversity, equity and inclusion.
University of
Michigan
Source: http://diversity.umich.edu/strategic-
plan/diversity-summit/
16.
17. Lunch on Us
● Every weekday during the
spring semester, the university
is holding noontime events
featuring speakers, panels and
resources.
● All free lunches are aimed at
introducing the community to,
“cultures, histories and societal
issues,” that the diverse
campus community faces daily
(University website).
University of
Illinois
Source:
http://oiir.illinois.edu/events/lunch
18. Community Engagement Pipeline
Program
● “Group of several programs
that identify, encourage and aid
students who might not
otherwise think a career in
medicine is a reachable goal”
(University website).
● Reaches out to promising high
school and college students.
● The program’s goal is to help
the professional workforce
reflect the diverse population
of Los Angeles.
UCLA
Source:
http://medschool.ucla.edu/diversity
19.
20. Diversity Dialogues
● Annual spring event
showcasing work done by the
university in regards to
diversity and inclusion.
● It features hourly presentations
done by faculty, staff and
students.
● There are three presentations
every hour during a 6-hour
period, covering a number of
diversity and inclusion topics.
University of
Wisconsin
Source:
http://www.uwlax.edu/Diversity-Inclusion/Diversity-Dialogues/
21.
22. Conclusion
● During my week at Old Queens I have learned about how Rutgers University is working
towards the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.
○ Initiatives are tracked, and regularly updated. Alexis Biedermann’s whiteboard is a
clear example of this goal-tracking.
● In my meetings with Rutgers staff and faculty I was able to learn about how different
departments are working towards reaching the university’s goals.
● I was happy to see that all of these departments are working to implement diversity and
inclusion within the university.
○ Through my research I have learned about how our peers and aspirational peers are
also working fervently to have diverse and inclusive institutions.
● While we can look to these institutions as examples, I believe that the most important
initiative Rutgers can take is to continue the movement in diversity and inclusion. Our
community will always be in a process of change, and the institution should continue to
reflect this progress.
23. The theme of Diversity &
Inclusion is a continuous
conversation both within
Rutgers university and
worldwide.
