SUNY Campuses Explore New Ways To "Make Diversity Count" At First System-Wide Conference
November 12, 2014
Albany – State University of New York Board of Trustees Chairman H. Carl McCall and Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today convened the first system-wide conference aimed at advancing diversity throughout SUNY, entitled Making Diversity Count: Ensuring Quality, Inclusion, Access, and Impact.
“The state’s growing diverse population tells us that our colleges and universities must provide relevant leadership, instruction, and curriculum, as well as policies that build inclusive cultures on our campuses,” said Chairman McCall. “Today’s conference is a critical and commendable step for each of the campuses participating as SUNY continues to advance the diversity of its students, faculty, and programs.”
“SUNY’s rich diversity is the cornerstone of our system’s vibrancy and strength,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “All those participating in this week’s conference are helping us build on that excellent foundation as we continue to broaden our efforts to enroll students from all walks of life and help them to succeed in college and career.”
“SUNY’s efforts to enhance diversity are guided by the system’s strategic planning focus on making diversity count, and we have made excellent strides since the plan was launched five years ago,” said Medina. “This week’s conference will keep SUNY’s momentum moving forward and help us to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equity in all that we do.”
At the conference, workshops provided a broad view of the issues in diversity facing campuses. The conference will strive to help campuses strengthen policies and strategies supporting diversity and inclusive excellence in several spheres: institutional policy, leadership, student affairs, teaching and learning, shared governance. Additionally, the conference will address success in the realms of student and faculty recruitment and retention.
Just as faculty and student inclusion have served as lynchpins of SUNY’s mission and success, responding to the diversity in the world is a critical component of SUNY’s future. Using the theme “Diversity Counts,” the conference aims to engage leaders in academic affairs throughout SUNY to carry the University forward in an era of far greater diversity, shifting demographics and global connection.
The conference is co-sponsored by the SUNY System Administration Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the SUNY University Faculty Senate.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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