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SUNY Potsdam Pres. Esterberg calls new SUNY diversity policy ‘bold and unflinching’

Posted 9/12/15

SUNY Potsdam Pres. Kristen Esterberg is calling new state policies on diversity and equity “bold and unflinching.” Esterberg, who served on the SUNY Diversity Task Force that recommended the …

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SUNY Potsdam Pres. Esterberg calls new SUNY diversity policy ‘bold and unflinching’

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SUNY Potsdam Pres. Kristen Esterberg is calling new state policies on diversity and equity “bold and unflinching.”

Esterberg, who served on the SUNY Diversity Task Force that recommended the changes, said the new policies will ensure “we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our diverse student population.”

The new policy for the State University of New York has been adopted by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

The plan, which will affect the SUNY colleges in Potsdam and Canton, includes appointment of a chief diversity officer for every SUNY campus and policy to increase diversity among students, faculty, and staff. In addition, there will be what a press release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office describes as “a new tool to provide students with an opportunity to voluntarily self-identify their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

“New York has a long and proud history of embracing diversity, and our world-class SUNY system is no exception,” Cuomo said. “With this new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy, we are once again sending a strong message that the Empire State is a national leader and a beacon of inclusion for all students.”

“As the public university system serving one of the nation’s most diverse states, it is essential that SUNY adapt to the evolving needs of all students,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.

The new policy broadly defines diversity to include considerations of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, age, socioeconomic status, status as a veteran, status as a student with a disability, first-generation students, and international students or those transferring between colleges. The policy aims to improve services and support for these students, ensure that SUNY’s student, faculty, and staff populations mirror that of New York State, and ensure that SUNY’s commitment to being welcoming and inclusive to all populations is clear.

A SUNY Diversity Task Force convened by Chancellor Zimpher developed the policy based on input from leaders and experts throughout SUNY and nationally, analysis of data and ongoing efforts to increase diversity within SUNY, and best practices seeing results in higher education across the country.

Highlights of the policy include:

· a chief diversity officer for every campus. This individual is a member of the senior administration and works with all campus offices to elevate inclusiveness and implement best practices. All chief diversity officers will collaborate as a system-wide network to inform, support, and implement system initiatives

· comprehensive strategic diversity plans for campuses and SUNY’s administrative headquarters. Campus plans will address student recruitment, retention, and completion strategies; administrative, faculty, and staff recruitment and retention strategies; and an evaluation and assessment component

· added emphasis on using leadership search firms that have demonstrated that they value diversity. In addition, SUNY will address the challenges associated with hiring couples who both work in higher education

· customized “cultural competency” training for SUNY and campus staff

· annual reporting on policy progress that is tied to leadership evaluation

· dedicated faculty researchers in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion will support the network of SUNY chief diversity officers and evaluate the policy for effectiveness and continuous improvement

In addition to the policy, the trustees approved a new data collection tool that will provide every student who registers at a SUNY campus with an opportunity to voluntarily self-identify:

· sexual orientation. Students will be able to select one of seven options (straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, questioning or unsure) or write-in an orientation not identified

· gender identity. Within the same tool, students will be able to select one of seven options (man, woman, trans man, trans woman, genderqueer/gender-fluid, questioning or unsure) or write-in an identity, and

· additional status, such as being a first-generation college student, active military or veteran, whether they will work on or off campus, and if they have requested services from the campus office of disabilities.

Key to SUNY’s efforts to be inclusive, students will have the opportunity to update this data each semester; and SUNY will be able to review retention and completion patterns for students who self-identify by campus, by sector, and across SUNY to inform student support services.

SUNY Trustee Richard Socarides, a nationally-recognized leader in LGBTQ rights, said, “With these actions, SUNY makes another clear statement that it is a welcoming place for members of the LGBTQ communities and continues to align itself with the commitment to full diversity and inclusion that New York State has demonstrated under Governor Cuomo. Importantly, this tool will allow us to view retention and completion patterns on campuses and throughout SUNY to consider areas where improved supports may be needed.”

A detailed data brief, which includes a summary of these and other key takeaways used to inform the new policy, is available online, and additional information is available on the Diversity Task Force website.