We are very proud that our community includes students and employees from various cultures, languages, colors, religions, national origins, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, gender expressions, and life and military-service histories. This year, we welcome the most diverse incoming class in our history. Respecting and valuing our differences is the foundation of our excellence as an institution of higher education.
We strive to excel in honoring our commitment to diversity and inclusion. One of our Pillars of Excellence in the 2020 Strategic Plan, Global Engagement & Inclusive Culture, defines our vision:
By 2020, the university will be a model campus community where all students, faculty and staff feel appreciated, respected, connected, valued and engaged with the larger life of the campus and beyond. To prepare students as productive 21st-century citizens and to bring more students from around the globe to campus, the university will continue to develop international partnerships that offer students meaningful international learning experiences. The university will enhance its efforts to improve cultural understanding between countries through our partnerships with universities around the world.
Our goals include:
- Become a university of choice for students from diverse backgrounds by strengthening recruitment and retention programs for such students;
- Build on successful recruiting and retention strategies to support increased diversity and excellence in faculty and staff;
- Support students, faculty and staff in developing more effective inclusive practices and behaviors;
- Continue to strengthen international partnerships that enhance faculty, staff and student experiences.
We have already surpassed the 2018 goals set in our Report Card for employment of staff and faculty from historically underrepresented ethnic/race groups with our faculty and staff diversity currently at 26.4 percent for faculty and 15 percent for staff, respectively. Based on our success, we have increased our goals for 2020 to 30 percent for faculty and 16 percent for staff. Together, we can reach these new goals.
Our continued success rests on our commitment and dedication toward instilling our campus with values we are proud of and ensuring an environment free from discrimination of all forms. It is imperative that our students, faculty and staff feel appreciated, respected, connected, valued and engaged with the larger life of the campus and beyond.
I would like to also encourage you to take some time to familiarize yourselves with the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees policy statements, including the Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy, and UMass Lowell’s Equal Opportunity guidelines and procedures, which are available at on the EOO website.
UMass Lowell is subject to the provisions of Public Law No. 92-318, Title IX, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (34 C.F.R. Subtitle A, Part 106), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
In the next few weeks, you will also receive an email from the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Outreach with information about the University’s Title IX training, which is required for all faculty and staff. We expect everyone to complete this training within 30 days.
If you have any questions about the university’s Equal Opportunity guidelines and procedures or about the Title IX training, please contact the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Outreach at 978-934-3565.