Cornell University
PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination

A diverse community includes everyone and is the foundation for the meaningful exploration and exchange of ideas. Since its founding, Cornell University has encouraged a culture that provides for the full participation of all members of our campus community—this keeps us at the leading edge in education and in our fields and practices. Cornell University is a place where intercultural skills are developed and enacted among diverse campus constituencies, with community partners, and within the classroom and workplace. President David Skorton reaffirmed the university's commitment to diversity in a message to faculty, staff and students. This commitment, he said, is "central to the university's founding vision," "remains a core value of Cornell and is a key goal of the university's 2010-15 strategic plan”. He and Provosts Kent Fuchs and Laurie Glimcher, dean of Weill Cornell Medical College are now directing the development of explicit diversity goals -- through the University Diversity Council (UDC) -- across all university populations to which units and departments will be held accountable. The UDC has been restructured to represent a wider breadth of the campus community and to incorporate a new approach called "Toward New Destinations." It allows colleges and units to tailor their diversity initiatives, based on institutional goals, to their particular needs. The restructuring of the UDC includes a new emphasis on measuring results and accountability. A wide range of initiatives and goals have been developed that will help guide the colleges and units in their endeavors. These goals and initiatives represent the full reach of Cornell's commitment to diversity and inclusion. The university's deans and vice presidents will be asked to choose five diversity initiatives each year that best suit their needs and strategic plans and to report on their progress at year's end. The approach includes diversity initiatives that are grouped by the core principles of: • composition, which refers to the demographic makeup of a unit, such as strategies for attracting and/or retaining more members from underrepresented groups; • engagement, which refers to the personal, social and professional commitment to institutional goals and activities, such as developing activities and events that "promote opportunities for engagement across difference"; • inclusion, which involves strategies to improve the campus's multicultural climate and interpersonal relationships; and • achievement, which reflects levels of attainment for underrepresented individuals or groups, through, for example, leadership training, honors, awards and other milestones.

•Renee Alexander, associate dean of students and director of intercultural programs; •A.T. Miller, associate vice provost for academic diversity initiatives, for undergraduate education; •Sheri Notaro, associate dean for inclusion and professional development, in the Graduate School; •Lynette Chappell-Williams, associate vice president for inclusion and workforce diversity; and •Yael Levitte, associate vice provost for faculty diversity and development The UDC also comprises the senior leaders to whom these diversity officers report: •Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services; •Kent Hubbell, dean of students; •Laura Brown, vice provost for undergraduate education; •Barbara Knuth, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School; •Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources and safety services; and •John Siliciano, senior vice provost for academic affairs, who with Levitte is responsible for faculty diversity.

The Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity provides leadership in the areas of equal opportunity, affirmative action, diversity, the "balance" between career and personal life, and the university Title IX efforts. The office serves as a liaison to local community organizations that address the employment interests of individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups. In addition, many of the colleges/units have staff/offices dedicated to addressing diversity issues.

Cornell University's Associate Vice President of the Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity is responsible for the university’s affirmative action program, diversity strategy efforts, leads the university’s Title IX efforts, supports disability access efforts for the university, and implements programming to address the career/life challenges of students, faculty and staff.