Equity and Inclusion

The Equity and Inclusion workstream released its final report in February 2021.

Workstream:

Equity and Inclusion

Goal:

The Equity and Inclusion Workstream looked at academic support services and new education and training programs that can help ensure that issues of equity and inclusion are addressed in our classrooms, laboratories, clinical training settings, and throughout our community.

Specifically, this effort considered training programs for faculty and staff as well as revised curricula, new education programs, and strengthened academic and support services for all our students within and outside the classroom. Such programs will help ensure that issues of equity and inclusion are addressed in our classrooms, non-classroom learning spaces, and throughout our community. In addition, there will be a focus on designing more equitable processes (e.g., for promotion and tenure, teaching evaluations, students’ work assessment, equitable clinical services, etc.), recognizing and promoting excellence within our community members in this important area (through fellowships and awards), and preparing our students for academic and personal success at Tufts and beyond.

Charge and Approach:

To advise the President and Tufts’ administration, the committee:

• Presented information and data on Tufts’ current state of equity and inclusion (programs, processes, etc.), working in close collaboration with the Institutional Audit and Targeted Actions Workstream.
• Identified key areas on which efforts at achievable improvement, including nearly immediate ones, should be focused.
• Suggested strategies for that improvement.
• Reported regularly on the progress of the committee.

Leader:

Nadine Aubry, Provost and Senior Vice President

Co-Chairs:

Bárbara Brizuela, Academic Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Joyce Sackey, Associate Provost and Chief Diversity Officer, Health Sciences Schools

Members:

Subgroup Leaders:

• Faculty: Heather Nathans, Chair and Professor, Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
• Staff: Mary Anne McInnis, Director of Learning and Development, Human Resources
• Undergraduate Students: Nandi Bynoe, Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, School of Arts and Sciences; Katrina Moore, Director, Africana Center
• Graduate and Professional Students: Sara Folta, Associate Professor/Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Friedman School for Nutrition Science and Policy

Other Members:

• Kevin Dunn, Vice Provost
• Dawn Terkla, Associate Provost
• Faculty representatives (Medford/Somerville, SMFA, and Boston and Grafton Health Sciences campuses)
• Staff representatives (Medford/Somerville, SMFA, and Health Sciences)
• Adriana Black, Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusion Education for Health Sciences
• Schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering Students Services representative
• Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies
• Dean of Graduate/Professional Education
• Center for STEM Diversity representative; Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion (DSDI)
• CELT and other education centers’ representatives

For a full list of subgroup leaders and members, please click here.

Community Engagement:

The committee created a webpage/wiki for community input, suggestions, and feedback that were reviewed in a continuous manner and provided to the committee prior to each meeting. In addition, the committee sent members to faculty meetings at all schools and engaged community members through a series of focus groups and large group discussions to ensure it garnered input and feedback while developing recommendations. The committee also sought input from and reported to the Faculty Senate and the various student leadership groups.