In early November 2015, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., announced strategies and the vision for the campus to become an inclusive campus.
This focus included initiatives and programs to embrace diversity, increase engagement and value inclusivity.
The Inclusivity Committee was established to develop and carry out short-term and intermediate strategies and goals laid out by Dr. Gold.
Dr. Gold met with student groups, including the Student Senate and the Student Senate Executive Committee, to listen, discuss issues, build engagement and seek solutions. The chancellor also met with the Campus Diversity Committee, whose members are students, faculty and staff, to discuss the issues and hear recommended initiatives.
Current challenges and opportunities to improve diversity and inclusivity were discussed at length with the chancellor’s staff and Chancellor’s Council. Dr. Gold emphasized those issues in his “Under the Microscope” videos with key campus and community leaders.
Out of those discussions, 23 short-term initiatives were developed and assigned to the chancellor’s office, the vice chancellor of academic affairs, the director of human resources, and the college deans and institute directors to implement. Sixteen of these short-term initiatives were completed, and several remain relevant for the future. Remaining initiatives are ongoing and longer-term plans have been made to keep these issues visible and active. (See sidebar for brief descriptions of three of these initiatives.)
“UNMC is dedicated to continual evaluation of our the internal and external environment,” said Cheryl Thompson, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs/student affairs. “As a community, UNMC will continue to
work together to address emerging needs and engage students, faculty, and staff across the entire university.”