#campusclimate

Campus Climate: Turning a New Page at New College

Submitted By Bill Woodson, Chief Diversity Officer and Dean of Outreach

Imagine a New College where the experiences and identities we bring to the table are truly welcomed. Where our collective commonalities as fellow members of a rich learning community are more important than our differences. Where our commitment to each other’s well-being and sense of belonging is more important than the…

LAAEI Summarizes Cornell University Diversity Initiatives

Main Takeaways

Cornell’s Vision Statement on Diversity refers to the legacy of inclusion and commitment to freedom, equity and reason. It argues that an enlightened academic community connects freedom with responsibility.

Towards New Destinations, a University-wide framework for diversity and inclusion, requires each College and administrative unit to annually propose diversity initiatives supporting four core principles of Composition, Engagement, Inclusion, and Achievement.

The definition of diversity behind the studies of Cornell’s campus climate starting in 2013 reaches beyond racial, ethnic, and gender identities, to include social identity groups as a way of seeing in which individuals find relevant to self-definition.

The qualitative Student Experiences study found that students expressed interest in discussing diversity, but were tired of one-time attempts. Students of underrepresented identities also experienced pressure to educate others.

Students expressed interest in more collaborative efforts with faculty, staff, or administrators, who should take more responsibility in directing education as a way of showing support, and as directed by President David Skorton.

Since the inception of Toward New Destinations, Cornell increased its numbers of underrepresented students and faculty, student recruitment and funding but still struggles to address Engagement and Inclusion and a lived experience of diversity.

References to diversity in the 2014 MLA Accreditation Report are general and vague. It uses statements such as “embrace diversity in all its forms” and “embrace a diversity of people and ideas.” While the Report provides data on students’ gender and ethnicity, it does not address other social identity groups such as religious affiliation, political views, or disability status.

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Links to Aforementioned Documents:

1999 – Vision Statement on Diversity

2008 – Rankin, Susan and Robert Reason, “Transformational Tapestry Model: A Comprehensive Approach to Transforming Campus Climate,” Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 2008, Vol. 1, No. 4, 262–274

2013 – Toward New Destinations Annual Initiatives Outcomes Summary

2013 – Beginning to Assess the Student Climate for Diversity at Cornell: Preliminary Findings on Student Engagement and Inclusion from Student Surveys

2014 – Toward New Destinations Diversity & Inclusion Report

2014 – Toward New Destinations Annual Initiatives Summary

2014 – Rubrics for Measuring the Institutionalization of Toward New Destinations

2014 – The Climate for Diversity at Cornell University: Student Experiences Executive Summary

2014 – CALS Strategic Plan One-Pager