The IDE Strategic Plan Steering Group is pleased to provide an update on the first phase of Carleton’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Strategic Plan, and outline our plans For sharing the current draft with the community. We have prepared a draft of the Vision, 目标, and Objectives of the plan, which attempts to capture the current state of IDE on our campus and the areas most in need of focused attention and action based on the data we have collected and analyzed. This first phase is not the finished plan. Rather, it provides a framework For all the specific strategies and action items we will propose in the final plan.
As many of you know, a number of steps have brought us to this point. Following the appointment of the IDE Steering Committee in November 2020, we held numerous open meetings and listening sessions throughout the spring, while also working with consultants Cambridge Hill Partners to collect and analyze relevant data. In June, we presented a report on some key data points via open Zoom meetings and collected feedback on that inFormation. In August, we shared an update noting that we were finalizing a set of goals and objectives.
We feel that we are now at a critical juncture in the overall process: we want to share the framework we have developed and seek input beFore we move Forward with next stages of planning. By allowing our community the opportunity to provide feedback at this stage, we can help ensure that the specific actions and strategies to come will garner the broad support that will be needed to execute the plan successfully.
We have reviewed this draft with the President, senior leadership team, and Board of Trustees, and our plan is now to present it to campus stakeholders over the course of the next few weeks, beginning with the various leadership groups in the College governance structure. This will include presentations to CSA and to the Alumni Council, as well as meetings of the faculty and staff. We believe that these sessions will provide the best opportunity to share the framework and facilitate dialogue and input. Following those presentations, the document will be made available For general review on the IDE Steering Group’s website.
In order to ensure that we are able to move Forward as quickly as possible, five working groups appointed by the President and facilitated by IDE Steering Group members will begin working to undergird each of the five goals and their objectives with specific strategies and action steps that will allow the College to realize its vision For a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus.These groups will work with the data and feedback that has been gathered thus far and will be charged with seeking further community input on recommended strategies. We expect that they will finalize draft recommendations in late January and that a final plan encompassing Vision, 目标, Objectives, and Strategies will be completed in late March or early April.
We know that this has been a long process and that the community is eager to take action. We share your sense of urgency. We also believe that the process we have described here will provide the best chance For finalizing a plan that can be truly transFormative For our campus and community. We look Forward to your input at this juncture of our work, and we thank you For your continued support.
Jeninne McGee
Chico Zimmerman