Swarthmore College
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Development (IECD), engages the entire community to cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment. The IECD collaborates with colleagues in the Provost’s Office, Human Resources, and the Dean’s Office, including the Black Cultural Center, Intercultural Center, Interfaith Center, and Women’s Resource Center to help foster dialogue, collaboration, and education among students, faculty, and staff.

The Assistant Vice President and Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Community Development, Shá Duncan Smith, works across campus to facilitate conversations on the definition, recognition, and introduction of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, policies, or programs that address the academic, student, and administrative communities.

There is also a Committee for Diversity and Inclusion through the Student Government Organization. Furthermore, there is a residential peer leader position called Diversity Peer Advisor (DPA), in which DPAs are selected sophomores, juniors, and seniors who serve in the residence halls as diversity peer advisors. DPAs offer programming, guidance, and support around topics of diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Student trainings:
1. Inclusive Leadership Training: This training is provided to more than 100 students who are residents assistants, green advisers, student academic mentors, and diversity peer advisors. These trainings occur before the start of each fall semester and prepare the students filling these roles to increase campus cultural competency and foster and maintain safe and respectful social relationships in the community. For more details, see https://www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/inclusive-leadership-conference-comes-to-swarthmore
2. Tri-College Identity, Equity, and Social Justice Summer Institute: Each summer, first-year students are invited to participate in this four-day training session sponsored by Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford Colleges. The Tri-College Institute is a retreat/intensive workshop experience. Students participate in a mix of activities such as small group discussions, journal groups, parties, lectures, off-campus trips, sports, and improvisational theater. The core topics are race, gender, class, privilege, and leadership.  Website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/new-students/summer-social-justice-institute

Faculty/Staff trainings:
A bi-annual Faculty/Staff Development Workshop series consists of multiple workshops, provided at no cost to all employees. The Faculty/Staff Development Workshop Committee, in partnership with Human Resources develops the programming for each workshop. The goal of the series is to provide opportunities for employees to develop and acquire skills, enhance competencies, and to learn from one another in the process. Each series engages with one or more of the following themes:
Emotional—Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
Environmental—Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being
Financial–Satisfaction with current and future financial situations
Intellectual—Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
Occupational—Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work
Physical—Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep
Social—Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system
Spiritual—Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life
Continuing Education Opportunities

Relevant website URLs:
1. https://www.swarthmore.edu/diversity-inclusion-and-community-development
2. https://www.swarthmore.edu/study-learning-working-living
3. https://www.swarthmore.edu/deans-office/tri-college-summer-multicultural-institute
4. https://www.swarthmore.edu/public-safety/bias-incident-harassment-and-hate-crime-response

This information was assembled by representatives from the Office of Sustainability.