Making the World a More Equitable Place to Live, Learn and Work

August 30, 2021 - Two global crises collided the past year and a half – the pandemic and structural racism. The intent of this statement is to document our viewpoints, commitment and actions that will contribute to making the world a more inclusive and equitable place to live, learn, and work. 

The Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences leaders are committed to providing an environment for students, faculty and staff that promotes success and is free from inequities, discrimination and harassment in any shape or form. The core mission of our College is to promote health and well-being in our communities and to enable delivery of care to those most in need through education and research. 

The inequities in our society have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has provided yet another example as to how the burden of a disease disproportionally affects people of color. Many of our faculty researchers, educators and clinicians have dedicated their lives to the development of strategies to improve social and health disparities in our communities, especially in the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

In addition, many of our alumni – researchers, social justice activists, policy advocates, educators, public health and health care professionals - have been working for decades to make a more equitable society in which healthcare, adequate housing and a living wage are equally accessible and free of bias.

However, we recognize that there is much more we can do. A committed group of College faculty met during the spring 2021 semester and generated ideas to move our College forward in its equity and inclusion initiatives. Faculty members across all of our departments and the School of Nursing have proposed several areas of opportunity for our College, including:

  • Professional development for faculty and teaching staff on inclusive curricula and classroom pedagogy.
  • Assess equity and inclusion content in our College courses, and enhance integration of such diversity, equity, and inclusion materials, activities, assignments and assessments in courses across college.
  • Provide more comprehensive resources to support student success in College programs in the new Health Sciences Hub, with additional focus on students struggling to meet the academic requirements of their majors.
  • Increase Interprofessional Education experiences that focus on equity and inclusion topics for students.
  • Actively recruit, support and promote faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented populations.

We recognize that our actions are only first steps and there is always more to do to achieve equity and inclusion.