Student Success Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
2022-2023
Student Success is committed to developing and supporting initiatives that serve students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Our strategies include tools for exploring and achieving success as a student, programs that connect students to support networks in the broader UMass community, platforms for students to make meaning of their personal narratives, and the reduction of barriers that propagate inequity in education. We also prioritize collaboration with other teams, outreach and communication across campus, and bridge-building within campus priorities. Guided by the UMass Amherst Diversity Mission Statement, we strive to create and sustain initiatives that cultivate a campus culture of access, safety, respect, and celebration for all members of the campus community.
Throughout 2022-2023, our unit is committed to achieving the following goals:
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Invite and incorporate perspectives from students of diverse backgrounds. This will include efforts and initiatives in our staffing and operations that center the voices and perspectives of students of color and other historically minoritized groups.
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Coordinate and participate in DEI learning opportunities/training each semester for professional staff in our unit. This may take the form of participating in pre-existing DEI training initiatives already on campus or bringing in guest speakers to present on specific topics.
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Commit 1-2 professional staff from our unit per year to a longer-term equity learning initiative that addresses racism and presents tools for how to build more inclusive spaces.
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Coordinate and develop at least one DEI training or resource per semester for academic advisors. These may take the form of presenters, workshops, printed resources, online guides, and/or additional offerings.
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Develop a DEI-specific section of our website. This section will hold our DEI statement and goals, and resources for students, instructors, and advisors.
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Commit the Smart About Money financial education programs to initiatives that directly serve students of color. This will entail collaborating with campus partners who also serve these populations, and continually examining our coaching practices to be inclusive of students experiencing financial insecurity.
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Ensure that our digital content is accessible. We are committed to learning about and implementing current best practices, working with campus partners who can advise us, and continually interrogating how our content can be most effectively delivered.
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Continue to work with partners in the schools and colleges to support current (and consider the development of new) Residential Academic Program (RAP) opportunities for identified groups of historically minoritized students. These programs offer the students an opportunity to live together, enroll in a common small class and receive specialized support, programming and advising from academic departments.
