Equity and Inclusion
According to the Association of American Colleges & Universities, Inclusive Excellence is:
“...an active process through which colleges and universities achieve excellence in learning, teaching, student development, institutional functioning, and engagement in local and global communities” (AACU, 2016, para. 2). References: Association of American Colleges & Universities. (2016). Making excellence inclusive.
In 2008, Platt College created a standing committee, the Diversity Committee, to assist in the development of plans, strategies, and initiatives to encourage increased diversity in the enrollment of the college and involvement in the college by diverse individuals at all levels of the institution. The diversity committee consists of 1 faculty member, 2 staff members, and 3 students. The committee is currently chaired by Barb Jones, Executive Administrative Assistant. In 2020, the Committee name was officially changed to the Equity and Inclusion Committee to encompass underrepresented students, faculty, and staff to support equity and social and racial justice.
The Equity and Inclusion Committee's purpose at Platt College is to foster and promote an inclusive environment. We are committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty, staff and students from varied backgrounds. We are committed to encouraging faculty, staff and students to cultivate an environment of diversity and inclusion, which are essential for strengthening our core values, our holistic awareness and our success in embracing everyone.
The Committee has focused on three objectives:
Objective 1: Develop an inclusive and widely shared understanding of equity on campus
i. Develop a concise institutional definition of equity for the College. Communicate the definition to include a mutual and shared understanding.
ii. Publish the definition in marketing
Objective 2: Strength and sustain a campus climate that prepares students for success in a globally connected and increasingly diverse environment
i. Host two lunch seminars annually for continuity of discussions regarding equity and inclusion.
ii. Incorporate equity and inclusion education through the Learning Resource Center featuring a new subject quarterly.
iii. Provide a mechanism for any student, faculty, or staff member to present an idea for an activity regarding equity and inclusion through the committee.
Objective 3: Create a program to recognize and reward departments and individuals for innovative approaches that help improve the campus climate
i. Recognize and reward students, faculty, and staff for outstanding contributions to equity and inclusion initiatives.
ii. Develop celebratory events annually to demonstrate the College's committment to equity and inclusion.