{"id":663607,"date":"2018-11-09T10:28:56","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T15:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oied.ncsu.edu\/divweb\/?p=663607"},"modified":"2018-11-09T10:28:56","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T15:28:56","slug":"charting-a-course-for-equity-and-diversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equalopportunity.ncsu.edu\/news\/2018\/11\/09\/charting-a-course-for-equity-and-diversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Charting a Course for Equity and Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Wolfpack Community,<\/p>\n

It\u2019s my pleasure to make my first statement to you as your interim vice provost for institutional equity and diversity. Since starting this role in March 2018, I have been fully engaged in getting up to speed and working with campus leadership, partners and the amazing team in the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity to grasp the state of affairs and, with input, start charting a course.<\/p>\n

I welcome all feedback and insights on the important matters we have at hand. Please feel comfortable to reach out to me at any time, and sign up to be selected to have lunch with me<\/a> and others across campus so that we can have opportunities to dialogue.<\/p>\n

We hope you enjoyed this fall\u2019s Diversity Education Week, our annual week of programs focused on NC State\u2019s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. \u201cDefining the Wolfpack\u201d was this year\u2019s theme, focusing on the critical aspects of social identity, social positionality, policy and practice.<\/p>\n

We stated that the definition of \u201cWolfpack\u201d as a noun is \u201ca shared sense of responsibility to know oneself, affirm others and build coalitions across communities.\u201d Diversity Education Week offered over forty programs around this theme. Community members engaged in broadening our horizons and exploring the multiple ways that individuals see, experience and honor themselves and others. The event is intended to create space for an exploration of humankind and to challenge ourselves to broaden our perspectives.<\/p>\n

Fully exploring concepts of identity, belonging and an open mind and heart are key elements of the college experience. \u00a0We continuously invite students to actively engage in using this time in your life to broaden your exposure to other cultures, ideas, philosophies and worldviews.<\/p>\n

And we ask and expect faculty, staff and administrators to also continuously engage in deepening their own cultural competency and to ensure that we provide an experience for our community that allows for thoughtful connection with our fellow Wolfpack members.<\/p>\n

On our campus, as in the world, we have experienced both positives and negatives. We had a very positive event recently \u2013 the naming of the University College Commons building after Irwin Holmes, Jr., \u201860, the first African American graduate of NC State, during Red and White Week. In this action of recognizing a pioneer who broke barriers and paved the way for others to succeed, we go beyond words.<\/p>\n

We have also recently experienced extremely negative events in our nation \u2013 bomb threats, violence and the senseless murders of Jewish worshipers practicing their religion in Pittsburgh \u2013 following many other racially-motivated incidents in our country.<\/p>\n

Together, we must stand against all acts of discrimination and violence, now more than ever. And, we must actively work each day to bolster our empathy, understanding and compassion for one another.<\/p>\n

Our work in the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity has and will continue to serve this exact purpose. Our organizational goals include:<\/p>\n