An Update on the Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion

A Memorandum to the Champlain Campus Community

From: Dr. David Finney

October 24, 2006 -- I am very happy to announce that I have received the first interim report from the Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion at Champlain College. The task force was convened in spring 2006 to study the issue of diversity and inclusion here at Champlain. Committee members include Bob Allen (Committee Co-chair and Chairman of the Board of Trustees), Laurel Bongiorno, Hadley Bunting, Janet Cottrell, Kay Kennedy (committee co-chair), Bob Moore (Trustee), Holly Miller (Trustee), Lara Scott, and Peter Straube. As you will readily see from their report, the committee did an enormous amount of work and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

While the committee will continue to examine issues and make recommendations for future action, I believe it is important to begin immediately to implement these initial recommendations. We will do so by taking the following actions.

1. We will move immediately to establish an Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Within the next two weeks I will form a search committee to assist in writing the job advertisement. This new office, located within Student Life, will be responsible for providing a “safe space” on campus for underrepresented minorities, organizing inclusion events, and raising consciousness of diversity issues on campus.
    
2. Through the remainder of this fall and into the winter we will develop, write and publicize the Champlain College philosophy statement on diversity and inclusion.
    
3. The Admissions Office will assess the effectiveness of diversity recruitment initiatives and consider new initiatives to improve results. They will develop a plan for diversity recruitment by June 2007.
    
4. The Office of Human Resources has already begun to structure position searches to maximize the chances of receiving applications from underrepresented minority populations.
    
5. We will create a series of campus-wide programs to celebrate diversity. I hope the programs can begin in the spring of 2007 semester.
    
6. The Provost and I will immediately evaluate the possibility of attracting minority faculty to campus through a visiting faculty program.
    
7. Beginning with the September 2007 class the college will structure scholarship offerings in a manner designed to maximize diversity.
    
8. I will immediately ask the core curriculum steering committee to emphasize themes of diversity and inclusion in the new core curriculum.
    
9. We will continue to work with local refugee populations in an effort to maximize their enrollments at Champlain.

The report from the task force includes a comprehensive list of current activities and programs that support and foster diversity and inclusion on campus. We will, of course, continue to support these activities.

On a number of occasions since my arrival I have stated that I believe Champlain to be an institution of insufficient diversity. I am delighted to receive this report and its recommendations from the task force. I feel certain that if we pursue these initiatives with resolve we will be able to effect a substantial change in the level of diversity on campus.

If you would like to participate or help in any of these initiatives please contact me as soon as possible.