Advancing Diversity and Inclusion 

Committees Working on Goals and Strategies for Every School and College 

Members of UAlbany’s Climate Committees participate in a two-part workshop designed to equip them with the tools needed to carry out their school/college diversity and inclusion work.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 5, 2019) – The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) has launched a new initiative to advance the University’s diversity and inclusion strategic priorities. Dedicated “campus climate committees” have been deployed within the nine schools and colleges, and libraries, to gauge needs and concerns and to work collaboratively to address the various diversity and inclusion issues in their respective schools.

Nearly 75 faculty and staff members across the University are supporting these efforts. Committees will determine whether to invite additional members such as students as they move forward.

To support their work, a series of programming is being offered throughout the academic year. Before the Thanksgiving holiday, committee members participated in a two-part workshop focused on utilizing demographic and climate data to inform efforts. The teams will also receive guidance on building assessment plans. Experts from the University’s Institutional Research Department and Educational Policy and Leadership Department in the School of Education are supporting these sessions, respectively.

“This work is designed to build capacity, identify, generate and disseminate knowledge necessary to create transformational change at UAlbany,” said Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Tamra Minor. “Our goal is for faculty, staff and students to make thoughtful and responsible contributions that support the University's diversity and inclusion mission."

Efforts will continue throughout the spring semester as the various committees create individualized plans for their areas.

In March, ODI will host Kelly M. Mack, vice president for Undergraduate STEM Education and executive director of Project Kaleidoscope, Office of Undergraduate STEM Education, at the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Mack, who is a former ADVANCE grant program director, will lead a best practices workshop to further support the committees’ plans and make recommendations on its work.

Further updates to the campus community will be provided as this important work unfolds.

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