Endicott College
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging focuses on implementing a variety of initiatives to address issues on campus with staff and students.

In September 2019, President Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D. shared in his inaugural message to the community that diversity initiatives would be a major priority for the college. With the new Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at the helm, the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging leads this work while collaborating with departments, divisions, and individuals throughout the community. The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging aims to work on equity issues throughout the student experience, focusing on assessing areas of need, analyzing data, and prioritizing actions to be carried out across departments. There are currently two full-time staff members in the DEIB Office, the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer and the Director of Belonging and Spiritual Life.

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Task Force, consisting of faculty and staff members from across divisions and departments, was formed to review, assess, and recommend strategies to improve efforts in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Endicott College. Through strategic planning and programmatic development, the task force will empower and support students, faculty, and staff to build a diverse, inclusive, and academically enriching campus community.

An annual campus-wide diversity and inclusion initiative includes Dine In & Dialogues, an initiative that is designed to bring students, faculty, and staff together to have open, honest, and productive dialogues regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and especially, belonging at Endicott College. While sharing a meal, we have the freedom to explore new ideas, raise issues, and expand our awareness of our own biases and concerns. The result is a grassroots program on our campus that uplifts compassion and belonging. Another annual initiave consists of holding Safe Zone Trainings for students, staff, and faculty. The Safe Zone Project is a resource that aims to build powerful and effective LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning +) educational opportunities through awareness and ally training workshops. Safe Zone trainings offer the chance for participants to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, gender, and sexuality.

DEIB Trainings
The Safe Zone Project is a resource that aims to build powerful and effective LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning +) educational opportunities through awareness and ally training workshops. Safe Zone trainings offer the chance for participants to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, gender, and sexuality.

DEI@Work is a self-paced, non-credit, online course designed to educate students on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace. The course grew out of a collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging, International Education, and the Internship & Career Center, and it has since won a Career Innovation Award through the Career Leadership Collective. As a college that requires three internships for all students, we strive to prepare our students to succeed in the workplace, and a crucial part of that preparation is helping them understand the impact of bias, stereotypes, and privilege in a work setting, as well as how DEIB benefits the workplace. This program was incorporated into the majority of pre-internship courses starting in Fall 2022 so that most if not all of our undergraduate students can increase their self-awareness and knowledge of the impact of DEIB in the workplace.

Faculty Fall 2022 Conference on Teaching and Learning: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions in the Classroom and Beyond goals are to ensure our classrooms are welcoming spaces for all students, whatever their backgrounds and experiences, and to make Endicott campus a place where all students feel like they belong. Full Conference Program here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RcrnRdYHCyQwUXGr_sSeUJgo2XW2_oQjrT-vElBgoeQ/edit#heading=h.kwxydybj5dqy

Curriculum
Courses in the DEI category provide students with greater cultural competency through the study of the many forms of diversity in society, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and geographic region. Issues of equity and inclusion are also emphasized. Students are required to take two DEI designated courses, one of which must be at the 200 level or above

Student Clubs/Organizations
On campus student clubs that support DEIB efforts include Alliance (student-led organization dedicated to generating a safe space for LGBTQIA+ community members and allies), Buddhist Sangha (open to all people interested in learning more about the teaching of Buddhism), DREAM ("Disability Rights Education Activism Mentorship" is a student organization committed to the equity and full experiences of students with disabilities on college campuses), Intercultural Club (raises awareness of the international community on campus, but also expands understanding of different cultures through presentations and fun activities), Political Action Committee (PAC, non-partisan politics club for students to engage with national and global political issues and events), Spiritual Life Club (students can experience and learn about different spiritual faith practices), Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ, dedicated to supporting causes for racial justice by supporting diversity and inclusion on Endicott's campus for all races), and Women in LEADership (helps students develop leadership skills beyond the classroom by attending events for networking success, making new connections, participating in community service efforts, and becoming involved in campus life).

Employee Resource Groups
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are employee-led groups formed around common interests, common bonds, or similar backgrounds. ERG members create a positive work environment at Endicott by actively contributing to the College’s mission, values, and efforts specific to inclusion and belonging, such as recruitment and retention. Endicott ERGs are open to all faculty, staff, and administrators. ERGs include: BIPOC; Disability, Access, Neurodiverse; LGBTQIA+; Women's Empowerment; and Working Parents&Caregivers.

International Programs
Global Ambassador Program
Who better than a current Gull to welcome the new Gulls? The Global Ambassador program at Endicott is very helpful to newly arrived international students. Upon arrival, each new student is assigned a Global Ambassador (GA). GAs are typically upperclassmen who are also international students or domestic students who have returned from a study abroad experience. They help new international students in their adjustment to the campus and to the United States. Your GA will take you to shop for any necessities, have dinner with you periodically, and check in during the semester to see how you're doing. They also plan outings to help you get to know the area, and of course, they are always available for your questions and concerns. Each April, students may apply to become Global Ambassadors for the following academic year.

Endicott's association with study abroad sites in more than 20 countries throughout the world provides a wealth of opportunities to immerse yourself in cross-cultural experiences. You will develop a unique awareness of the critical issues facing nations today and informed insights into what they might be able to do to truly make a difference.

DEIB Working Groups
Athletics, Center for Performing Arts, Nursing Department, and Office of Residence Life DEI Committees; Dine and Dialogue Initiative.