DEI is alive and well in SUNY (so Support your Local ODEI)

First, a special thanks to Dariann Zielinski of SUNY New Paltz for the idea of a Women's History Month Trivia Contest, and then for making it happen each week in March! The weekly winners will receive their small gifts (I'm getting the mailings organized this week), and there is also a grand prize gift card, sponsored by the Council of Chief Information Officers (CCIO). The WIT team is very grateful to all who helped make this a special month!

Now, this week's focus is on DEI efforts in academia. This overview article from the Chronicle of Higher Education details some of the national legislative actions limiting DEI in recent years, and how colleges and universities are addressing them. If you hit a paywall when following the link, contact your library to see if they are providing access to your campus - I know the Feinberg Library at Plattsburgh does.

The article reports on specific legislation, rationale from the legislators and governors, and responses from DEI advocates and students looking for support. There is a lot of confusion at many levels. In SUNY however, we have a clear mission and an ODEI Office committed to this mission:

"ODEI is responsible for devising and implementing a range of programs to promote the diversity of SUNY’s human resources. The office promotes the integration of diversity-related instruction and research into ongoing SUNY system-wide initiatives to enhance academic excellence. ODEI partners with baccalaureate, doctoral granting institutions and community colleges to achieve the holistic integration of New York’s underrepresented and economically disadvantaged populations into the academic culture of higher education. Through its various initiatives, ODEI strengthens SUNY’s ability to create a learning environment needed to develop the extraordinary leaders who will succeed in an increasingly culturally diverse and globalized society. The office focuses on SUNY’s goal of providing the highest quality educational experience that is fully representative of the diversity of human difference in New York State."

I'm happy to say that is what the WIT and this community is all about as well!

In addition, most SUNY campuses have a local DEI office , where we can access services and support resources. I often highlight external resources on this list, bringing you articles, research, video, and support organization links, but...sometimes we miss out on terrific resources close to home. So don't miss out! Get connected to your campus DEI office and all that they have to offer.

All the best,
Holly

WIT Weekly Wisdom: A message for SUNY WIT list subscribers on the topics of Connecting, Learning, Stretching, Teaching, Reaching, and Balancing.

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