Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the SUNY Board of Trustees has adopted a new diversity policy. It is designed to make the campuses the most inclusive in the nation.The SUNY Board approved a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy for SUNY. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher says 'diversity is interwoven throughout' the strategic plan.
“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 state said the new policy 'broadly defines diversity to include 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.'
“New York has a long and proud history of embracing diversity, and our world-class SUNY system is no exception,” Governor 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.”
The new policy will also provide every SUNY student registered to voluntarily self-identify their sexual orientation and Gender Identify. The new policy is expected to improve student support services as well as welcome and include all diverse populations.
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/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 the leadership evaluation process.
· Dedicated faculty researchers in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion will support the SUNY Chief Diversity Officer network 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 and/or off campus, and if they have requested services from the campus office of disabilities.