Syracuse University in New York has announced a series of new initiatives aimed at further enhancing diversity among the student body, faculty and staff. Blacks make up 8 percent of the undergraduate student body at the university.
Among the initiatives are:
- Recruiting and hiring faculty from underrepresented populations;
- Establishing a University-wide Council on Diversity and Inclusion to support and inform the work of the (proposed) chief diversity officer and help build on existing plans to develop and implement a University-wide strategy on diversity and inclusion;
- Offering an essential level of free tutoring;
- Creating an online portal of diversity and inclusion programs and activities across campus; and
- Providing ongoing faculty and staff development on issues of race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, sexual harassment and religious beliefs.
The university reports that of the 70 new full-time faculty members hired for the 2016-17 academic year, 31, or 44 percent are faculty of color.
Kent Syverud, chancellor of Syracuse University, stated that “diversity is critical to 21st-century success. The strength of this university, as a whole, comes from embracing the unique talents, history and perspective of every individual on this campus.”
