Committee invites feedback regarding diversity
Anna Hartig
Contributing Writer
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Planning Group (DEISPG) has developed a multi-year strategic plan to create the ideal environment at The College of Wooster. The primary goal of this group is to maintain diversity within faculty, staff and students.
To create an effective way to reach their goals of inclusion, DEISPG divided members of the group into four working groups. The first three groups are focusing on creating, retaining and improving the diversity of the College’s faculty, staff and student body. The fourth group is focusing on aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion in the College’s campus culture.
In the open meetings held in January, DEISPG worked on generating ideas that were then organized into their main goals. These goals were again addressed at the February meetings and concentrate on establishing a more diverse community in Wooster. DEISPG Student Leader, Marina Adams ’19 said, “These goals are meant to transform and improve our campus as a whole and that includes everyone who is a part of it.”
Crista Craven, associate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies and anthropology/co-chair of DEISPG, stressed how easy it is to get involved in helping DEISPG. “I’d like to highlight that there are definitely ways that students can still contribute,” Craven said. “We will be holding the last series of Open Meetings (OMs) to set priorities as a Campus Community in March & April.”
These open meetings are extended to interested students but also the wider Wooster community including the Wooster Community Schools, Chamber of Commerce, Wooster Police Department, NAACP, United Way and Wooster Interfaith Partnership.
Craven and Sandra Smith, assistant dean of students/co-chair of DEISPG, both encourage everyone to attend the meetings held this spring to prioritize the goals by setting time frames. The first meeting is Thursday, March 23 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Scot Center’s Governance Room. For those who are not able to attend, a student survey will be available with similar questions and topics that are covered during the meetings. Opinions from the entire student body are encouraged.
Following the final open meetings, group leaders will present the strategic plans to President Sarah Bolton and further plans will determine how to achieve the goals set forth by the campus community.
Active student participation is particularly pressing in these upcoming meetings. If students are unable to attend the open meetings, they are strongly encouraged to reach out to any of the DEISPG members.
Adams is open to conversing with students who are interested in helping DEISPG. Adams has been engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion discussions prior to joining the planning group and feels that each student involved, “brings to the table a specific perspective which is informed by our life on campus and the groups we dialogue.” Adams urges everyone to take part in DEISPG and said, “To join the work we are doing, I think we need to actively engage in dialogue and seriously reflect on our actions.”