DEI Council Summary Feburary 2021

DEI Council Meeting Summary from February 4, 2021

DEI Updates

  • DEI recently celebrated 2 years since the launch of the Division
  • A law enforcement and community collaborative was launched, which includes three subcommittees, including (1) Professional Development (2) Community Engagement and (3) Grants and Research. If interested in serving on the committee, please contact Dr. Monika Shealey at shealey@rowan.edu
  • DEI will be sharing information about DEI initiatives throughout departments and colleges at Rowan through the DEI Data Dashboard. This will be available on the DEI website, rowan.edu/DEI
  • DEI is releasing an annual report, which will include the Strategic Action Plans (SAP) of college and departments

President’s Committee on Scholarships 

  • President’s Committee on Scholarships included three goals (1) increasing recruitment and retention efforts of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous People of Color (2) Generating institutional and philanthropic funding to reduce student debt loads and unmet need gaps (3) Developing and expanding degree to career pathway programs.
  • The recommendations on behalf of the DEI & President’s Committee on Scholarships included: (1) finding solutions to reduce the debt load for medical students (2) increasing need based financial aid through reallocation of existing merit funds and/or seeking more donor funds (3) developing a tracking system for internships and job placement (4) increasing support for staff for positions focused on recruitment and retention of underrepresented students (5) consideration of a Race and Ethnic Studies Department (6) increasing institutional support and employee engagement for PATH Program (7) developing a single priced housing lottery system (8) developing undergraduate research opportunities for students. The committee furthermore will be implementing recommendations with the Camden Launchpad and the proposal to better support medical school students from marginalized groups

Neuordiversity Task Force 

  • The Neurodiversity Task Force launched the Inclusive Pedagogy and Practices (IPP) Certificate, which was sold out within 10 minutes. The next IPP cohort will begin in April 2021, and is only available to those people who have completed the DEI Certificate
  • The task force is solidifying the Center for Neurodiversity and Accessibility Services Report this semester to enhance the White Paper
  • The subcommittees within the task force include (1) Professional Development (2) Improving collaboration with the RCs and Medical Schools (3) Scorecard – survey to determine the extent to which we are serving our Neurodivergent populations. To complete the survey, please go to this link: https://rowan.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5yYrFUfPjVl8cn3

Strategic Action Plan 

  • Each department and college is being asked to identify their progress on the Strategic Action Plans by Wednesday, February 10

Language of Identity 

DEI Department Updates

ASCEND AND CHAMP

  • SNAP benefits now approved for students who are in need, please visit the following link for more information: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/Publications/NJSNAP%20Benefits.pdf
  • ASCEND & CHAMP are working on summer programming, planning fully virtual program
  • with ability to pivot to a hybrid format, if possible. As well as hosting FASFA workshop series and first year workshop series beginning the week of February 15, for more information contact Dr. Dawn Singleton, singeltond@rowan.edu

OSEC 

  • OSEC collaborated with HR to provide training, all employees will receive email on 12/7/2020 with information and the following week will receive an email for how to complete training – February 28 deadline
  • The Student Title IX Summit is scheduled for April 23, keynote speaker is Rasheda Douglas
  • Last call for advisors for Title IX investigations, if you are interested, please email princilus@rowan.edu

SJICR 

SOM

  • Black Men in White Coats documentary will be able to view between 2/24 – 2/26, panel discussion to follow on 2/27, to register to view the documentary, please fill out the form at:  https://rowan.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2bCvfB9TF9Vmqxw
  • SOM is focused on deepening DEI professional learning, will be a continued point of emphasis and hope this will inform long-term shifts in culture
  • U Good Fam? – SOM edition started last month
  • Black Male Support Group created for medical students, starting a similar
  • support group for LGBTQIA+ students

First Generation Task Force Symposium

Professional Development