Introduction
The Equity and Inclusion Task Force created in Fall 2020 by former President Warden has been reformed in Fall 2021 as a university-wide committee dedicated to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion institutional best practice in all areas and departments at Franklin, from Academic Affairs to Marketing and Enrollment to Student Life. The committee is comprised of committed students, alumni, faculty and staff. It is currently soliciting dynamic programming ideas and suggestions of any kind, to be submitted anonymously (using designated Kaletsch mailbox 55) or via e-mail.
DEI remains a top priority at Franklin but innovative structural improvements are necessary, says Professor Ferrari, Committee Co-Chair, “we shouldn’t wait for challenges to escalate into a crisis before taking innovative measures for positive change on campus. Ongoing transparent discourse on DEI topics is key but actions speak louder than words and all of us in the community can do better when it comes to making our DEI efforts more meaningful and effective.” Though a reporting mechanism for reporting bias incidents exists, community members facing DEI challenges may prefer to contact the committee for advice or to help facilitate. The main idea is to rally together as a united campus and ensure that diversity is valued as a precious, and sometimes fragile, resource that requires our full attention, care and support.
Purpose of the Committee
The Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a collaboration of diverse FUS community members comprised of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We seek to foster ongoing community-wide dialogue, educational opportunities, and professional training to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion issues are better understood by all FUS constituents. The committee seeks to function as a platform for all community voices to be heard and amplified.
Some of the main goals of the committee are to:
- improve general awareness in the community about diversity, equity, and inclusion
- identify and address any problems at the institution, across all aspects of campus life, that obstruct equity and inclusion
- facilitate the ongoing development of reporting mechanisms available to the community
- provide a safe space and platforms dedicated to exploring bias-related issues on campus.
What the Committee does
At Franklin University Switzerland we take pride in our diverse student body, staff, and faculty. The Committee aims to shield our community from biases that interfere with our institution’s educational mission. During our meetings, we aim to provide a platform for bias-related community concerns. Paths to remedy challenging situations are discussed, developed, proposed, and negotiated.
We aim to facilitate public conversations that bring increased attention to biases and prejudices that community members may have faced, safeguarding the privacy of all parties through confidentiality. We see the campus at Franklin University Switzerland as a microcosm of a global society. We believe in building meaningful conversations around matters of social justice, both locally and internationally. We celebrate the value of diversity and act to promote positive change at our university while striving for a safer and more just world.
Contacts
Franklin University Switzerland
The Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Mailbox 55
Via Ponte Tresa 29
6924 Sorengo
Switzerland
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