RCOAL forms Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism Council - Arts & Letters Expressions

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RCOAL forms Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism Council

The advisory group makes policy recommendations to the RCOAL leadership team aimed at increasing diversity in the College.

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Arts and Letters monogramThe Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters has officially formed a new Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism Council (RCOAL Diversity Council).

Developed in September 2020, the Council was initially suggested this past summer to Dean Shawn Wahl by Dr. Jason Jolley, in his role as RCOAL Associate Dean for Globalization, Diversity, and Policy, and in response to concerns voiced by MSU students and faculty about racism and a lack of diversity.

“The charge I proposed for the Council states that it makes policy recommendations aimed at increasing diversity in the College and ensuring that all individuals—but particularly BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and international faculty, staff, and students—feel welcome, safe, represented, respected, and valued,” Jolley said.

In fulfilling this purpose, the Council engages in actions including, but not limited to:

  • Producing and periodically updating the College’s diversity action plan
  • Gauging the College’s overall climate regarding diversity
  • Proposing and coordinating diversity and inclusion strategies and initiatives
  • Coordinating with other College and department committees to ensure that events, recruitment and marketing efforts, curriculum, hiring practices, etc., are broadly inclusive
  • Supporting the efforts of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, Multicultural Services, departmental diversity committees, and other similar campus units
  • Assessing the impact of the College’s diversity and inclusion efforts

The Council has a total of 27 members, including faculty from all seven departments in the College. “I was very pleased that when I sent out an open call for participants numerous individuals from each department responded,” Jolley says. The Council also plans to gather input from RCOAL students.

Wahl adds, “The college will join the broader university community in an ongoing conversation focused on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The college leadership team is committed to helping advocate for change.”