Organizational Changes to Ensure Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive Campus

The following statement was sent to the campus community on Jan. 24:

As we prepare for the spring semester, we are reminded of the importance of ensuring a diverse, equitable and inclusive living and learning environment. Creating a campus community that supports the success of all students, faculty and staff is fundamental to our overall mission, and today, I am writing to share some organizational changes that will advance these critical campus goals.

• Through establishment of the office of the associate chancellor for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, Enobong (Anna) Branch assumed responsibility of campus advocacy for diversity and inclusion.
• In accordance with the University of Massachusetts system-wide initiative to more fully incorporate affirmative action planning in campus hiring and retention goals for diversity, equity and inclusion, responsibility for related data collection and the university’s Affirmative Action Plan will transition to Human Resources.
• To ensure all members of the campus community who require disability support receive fully integrated services, Human Resources will assume responsibility for administering disability support services for faculty and staff, while Student Affairs and Campus life will provide disability support services for students.  Christine Wilda, associate chancellor for compliance will be the designated ADA compliance officer for the campus.
• Debora Ferreira, reporting to the associate chancellor for compliance, will serve as executive director of equal opportunity and Title IX coordinator. The associate chancellor for compliance will oversee the UMass Amherst Title IX team.
• Human Resources will assume responsibility for overseeing all hiring activity, and ensuring compliance with laws governing EEO/AA, diversity, and equity. Oversight for faculty hiring will continue to be conducted by the provost’s office.

During this transition, we will continue providing faculty, students and staff with the support they need, as we advance a campus environment that supports success for all.

We are in the process of updating our policies and procedures to reflect these changes.

Should you have questions for yourself, a faculty, student or staff member during this time of transition, please find contact information for the various areas of responsibility discussed in this communication below.

--Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy

Contact Information: