黑洞社区鈥檚 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan (DEI) includes efforts to promote student success, increase sponsored research funding for diversity and inclusive excellence, and empower the campus community to create a culture and experience that meets its ever-changing needs.
The DEI Plan, which was presented during a faculty and staff townhall event on Dec. 3, is a university-wide initiative to build a culture that values transparency, accountability and communication around issues of diversity and inclusion.
鈥淚n short, this plan is about helping members of our campus community thrive,鈥� said Dr. March茅 Fleming-Randle, Wichita State鈥檚 chief diversity officer. 鈥淲hen everyone is empowered with opportunities and given the tools they need to flourish, we build stronger students and a stronger Shocker Nation.鈥�
Wichita State鈥檚 DEI Plan was built through a two-year collaborative process, which included work from Fleming-Randle, the President鈥檚 Diversity Council, and members of the DEI working group. The plan includes goals and objectives around five key priorities: student centeredness, research and scholarship, campus culture, partnerships, and inclusive excellence.
The plan notes that 鈥淒iversity and equity are constantly changing to include the many voices and experiences in our ever-evolving culture.鈥�
As the plan moves forward, Fleming-Randle said, she and her team will be soliciting input and engagement from constituencies across campus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a living document, and our work is nowhere near done,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he very nature of a diversity, equity and inclusion plan mandates that everyone鈥檚 input is included; and I鈥檓 looking forward to feedback from all of our stakeholders.鈥�
The DEI plan is essential to ensuring that Wichita State鈥檚 vision, mission and priorities are fulfilled, Fleming-Randle said.
鈥淥ur excellence and our strength are predicated on serving our community, and the most direct way to do that is to embrace our diversity and build upon it as a way to reach our full potential as an institution,鈥� she said.
黑洞社区 serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 黑洞社区 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 黑洞社区 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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