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Buffalo State Embraces Diversity throughout Campus

When colleagues and visitors come to campus, they often remark on the vibrancy of Buffalo State and how we celebrate diversity in so many ways. I respond, noting our mission, dedication, and passionate recognition that from diversity comes strength. I normally don’t mention all the ways beyond the mission that we codify our commitment to diversity and inclusion. But let me remind us all that our commitment is embedded in our strategic plan. We have a well-thought-out institutional diversity plan; each of our academic schools has a diversity plan; and we have a wide-ranging list of programs, workshops, and lectures on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion every year. We stand as a recognized leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion within the SUNY system and within higher education’s professional associations.

We have received national recognition for our campuswide support of diversity and inclusion. We are especially proud that for five consecutive years, beginning in 2013, we have received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine. This award recognizes the numerous campus initiatives that celebrate and inform our campus community inside and outside the classroom.

Approved Applied Learning Fellowship cohort workshop held on campus this spring

Our current student body reflects the diversity we see in the state of New York. Our current undergraduate population is made up of more than 50 percent traditionally underrepresented groups, and our graduate programs are roughly 25 percent racially or ethnically diverse. We also have made significant strides to diversify our faculty and staff. Forty-eight percent of our tenured or tenure-track faculty members are women, and 20 percent of our faculty and 18 percent of our staff members are from traditionally underrepresented ethnic or racial groups. Half of our administrative leadership is composed of traditionally underrepresented minorities, a proportion seldom seen in higher education. Even with these successes, we continue to work hard to maintain or further increase the diversity of our faculty and staff.

At the summer Computer Science for High School (CS4HS) Student Showcase on campus

We have rigorous recruitment practices in place to encourage people of all backgrounds to seriously consider working or learning at Buffalo State. We network with historically black colleges and universities and participate in forums, conferences, and caucuses to showcase the opportunities at Buffalo State. We work with SUNY System Administration to capture resources for diversity hires at every opportunity. And this year, we have hired our first Buffalo State diversity fellows, bringing talented ABDs to our campus to contribute their talent and expertise.

Staff and students at this spring’s Residence Life banquet

In every corner of our campus and through our many connections to the city of Buffalo and beyond, we do more than just talk about the importance of diversity; we demonstrate it every day in the collective work we do together. So please join me in celebrating the many ways that Buffalo State is committed to ensuring that who we are, what we teach, how we teach, and how we work together represent an acknowledgment that our diversity fortifies us. We stand poised to lead in our world and leverage our diverse and varied backgrounds, perspectives, and worldviews in ways that enhance ourselves and the world around us. And because of that, we as a campus are strong, resilient, and ready for whatever comes our way.

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