Putting inclusive excellence into practice
Draft of UD diversity blueprint released to community
3:40 p.m., Nov. 23, 2015--A draft version of the University of Delaware’s blueprint to help integrate diversity and inclusion across all areas of the UD educational experience was released Nov. 20. Titled Inclusive Excellence: An Action Plan for Diversity at UD, the document was issued by UD Vice Provost for Diversity Carol Henderson, who has been working with partners all across the UD community to build and refine the plan.
Its goal: to help UD build forward momentum around the values of diversity and inclusion that align with the University’s Delaware Will Shine strategic plan. It also intends to lay the groundwork for diversity practices that will drive the University of Delaware’s global leadership in a rapidly shifting and increasingly diverse world.
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“We are all significant participants in advancing the educational mission of transformative learning experiences that prepare our students to live in an increasingly diverse and global world,” noted Henderson. “Our commitment to institutional excellence builds on this guiding principle that diversity is essential for educating global citizens who will create knowledge that has societal impact.”
Recent events at institutions of higher education across the country have enforced the need for creating more welcoming, engaged and equitable academic communities that contribute to the common good of our global society. So valuing the voices and insights of the UD community is extremely important, Henderson said, in explaining why the document was shared in its current unfinished draft form.
“All along our journey we want to be transparent,” she explained. “This is a working document meant to adapt to our prevailing concerns, so we welcome feedback from our community.”
In a letter introducing the document at its release, the vice provost said the “blueprint” has a number of strategic goals with actionable steps — both short-term and longer-range — because diversity is much broader than race and ethnicity. Those steps include developing diversity training for search committees, staff and faculty; developing diversity guidelines for each college; and creating additional resources to address the needs of students, faculty and staff from traditionally underrepresented groups.
“UD’s exceptional position as a leader in research, scholarship and engagement means that we are uniquely equipped for the task. Our intentions must match our potential, however," she said. "To fully address the grand challenges and great debates of our time, we must strengthen the University of Delaware’s commitment to provide a rich educational experience that better prepares us all to positively affect our world’s needs.”
The draft action plan is posted on the University's Diversity webpage.
All comments and feedback can be shared at vpd@udel.edu.
Article by Jawanza Ali Keita