Belonging@UMass Launched at JEDI Conference
The UMass Amherst community came together at the start of the fall semester this week to participate in the first-ever Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) conference, part of the university’s Belonging@UMass initiative, which will continue through the academic year.
In his remarks in the Student Union on Wednesday, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said, “A research university, by definition, is a bastion for pursuing the truth, and therefore, it must be a place where everyone feels enabled to speak freely. Given an individual’s ability to openly share their point of view is directly proportional to their sense of belonging, when we foster a university community defined by equity and inclusion, where everyone experiences a sense of belonging, then we ensure all voices are heard – and the truth pursued.”
He emphasized that the university’s written commitment to creating a diverse and welcoming community needs “to be lifted off the page and made real. We need to breathe life into our intentions, else they remain one-dimensional and flat.”
Nefertiti A. Walker, vice chancellor and chief diversity officer, said she was very impressed with the high level of engagement by participants during the two days, especially the breakout session for students on intersectional allyship at which a large turnout explored how to show up and stand up for others in a diverse community. Results from the latest Campus Climate Survey were presented by the Office of Equity and Inclusion, underscoring the need to improve the sense of belonging among many groups on campus.
The conference was livestreamed and recorded, and those unable to attend can view the sessions online. Among the notable speakers was alumnus Rachel Rollins, who serves as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, the chief federal law enforcement officer in the commonwealth.
“This was an outstanding start to our conversation about Belonging@UMass,” Walker said. “For everyone who attended, and for others who watch the recordings, I recommend that they sit with what they learn and reflect on how we can cultivate a sense of community. That includes individual accountability and commitment to this work as we strive towards inclusive excellence. As individuals and an institution, we will then embark on next steps, informed by the Campus Climate Survey, and develop actions plans. We aspire to have widespread engagement across campus, and we enthusiastically invite all to the table including student leaders, staff, deans, department chairs, councils and committees, as well as ongoing engagement from those leaders across campus, who have been deeply embedded in this work for many decades.”
Day one of the JEDI conference featured a keynote on how we can grow our culture of belonging, a discussion on how faculty members can help foster inclusion among students and breakout sessions.
The second day of the JEDI conference featured remarks by Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, a panel discussion from campus leadership on belonging, a deep dive into campus climate data and more.