For the third year in a row, ӰƵ took home the Commission on Economic Inclusion’s Best-in-Class Workforce Diversity Award, placing the university in the commission’s hall of fame. The university was recognized for its multifaceted approach to building a diverse, inclusive environment of faculty, staff and students.
“ӰƵ is honored to be recognized for the third straight year by the Commission on Economic Inclusion,” President Barbara R. Snyder said. “Our efforts are making our campus an inclusive, stimulating place to learn, work and live. And we’re not done yet.” She accepted the Best in Class award and Hall of Fame honor at a reception this summer to recognize the 2012 award winners.
In selecting ӰƵ for the award, the commission recognized the university’s workforce data: 32 percent of the workforce is diverse, as are 39 percent of newly hired employees. These numbers compare to averages of 27 and 31 percent, respectively, according to the commission.
Successful strategies referenced included:
- the Diversity Leadership Council, which promotes dialogue, provides resources and oversees the implementation of the Diversity Strategic Action Plan;
- input from three diversity-related employee resource groups: the President’s Advisory Council on Minorities, the President’s Advisory Council on Women, and the Staff Advisory Council;
- faculty and staff mentoring initiatives;
- recruitment and retention intervention focused on underrepresented minorities;
- mandatory training on alleviating bias in the faculty search process; and
- new employee resource groups.
