PCDEI Begins Three-Year Racial Justice and Inclusion Effort
Greetings from the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PCDEI). Yesterday, a group of 25 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees met as the newly constituted PCDEI to begin work on a three-year effort focused on Racial Justice and Inclusion.
Since George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police in May, members of the Gustavus Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, and PCDEI have been in conversation about how to advance the College’s work of transformational change towards the creation of a more just community where all of us feel a sense of belonging and benefit from an exceptional education.
As a result of these conversations, PCDEI leaders crafted an ambitious three-year plan to:
1) educate the entire campus community about the multifaceted nature of racial justice and to equip students, faculty, and staff with the skills and abilities necessary to create equity and inclusion on campus and beyond, and
2) enact changes to Gustavus policies and practices to ensure that Gustavus is governed, organized, and led according to just policies and practices that facilitate equitable educational and professional opportunities and benefits.
Some of this work already has detailed plans that are ready to implement, while other initiatives will emerge and evolve over the next three years. In the weeks and months ahead, I will communicate with the campus about progress toward these goals and opportunities to contribute and provide input to this effort.
The PCDEI exists to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community at Gustavus. Even as we undertake this focus on Racial Justice and Inclusion, the Council will continue to tend to the strategic leadership of the College’s whole Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ecosystem, an interrelated network of existing committees, offices, roles, boards, projects, events, and funds.
On behalf of the whole PCDEI, we look forward to working with you as we continue to live out the College’s core values of excellence, community, justice, service, and faith.
Sincerely,
Siri