U. announces new Diversity Strategic Plan
Yesterday, University President Jonathan Holloway announced the completion of Rutgers' first Diversity Strategic Plan, a comprehensive report detailing what improvements can be made to the University's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The report was initially conceived as a review of the central administration's approach to DEI but was later expanded to include how DEI initiatives can be improved throughout all three Rutgers campuses and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, according to Holloway's message.
The plan identifies five priorities for University administration to keep in mind as they introduce new DEI policies and revise existing ones: "developing a diverse community, promoting inclusive scholarship, defining substantive community engagement, building capacity for inclusive climates and developing the infrastructure to drive change."
The report also mentions new DEI projects that tackle different aspects of educational and health inequity such as the Presidential Faculty Diversity Initiative, the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice, Rutgers Equity Alliance for Community Health and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advocacy Innovation Grants Program.
In his message, Holloway said he believes the plan addresses inequity with regard to students, faculty and community outreach. This plan also arrives at a time when policies such as affirmative action are at risk of removal, he said.
"Excellence can be found everywhere; I know that to be true. But we have to look for it, we have to nurture and cultivate it, we have to remove barriers to it and we have to reward and celebrate it throughout the University," Holloway said. "This strategic plan is Rutgers’ declaration that we will."
