Bay Path University

www.baypath.edu 5 T H E F I R S T S T E P S In early November 2015, President Carol Leary established a diversity and inclusion Task Force consisting of members from across the Bay Path community. Under the leadership of Provost Dr. Melissa Morriss- Olson, the group developed a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Action Plan with eight identified goals (see www.baypath.edu/ about/diversity- and-inclusion/ ) on a number of key levels, including: creating a culture that promotes and ensures safety, respect, and inclusion; implementing professional development and training; strengthening recruitment, retention and persistence of students from diverse backgrounds; and engaging key leadership and the Board of Trustees to ensure top-down support. The last goal has particular importance since meaningful change with diversity and inclu- sion on the Bay Path campus depends on the full support of the Board of Trustees. W H AT I S D I V E R S I T Y A N D I N C L U S I O N ? Diversity means all the ways we differ, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values, or national origin. Some of these differences we are born with and cannot change. Anything that makes us unique is part of this definition of diversity. Inclusion is the act of bringing people together and harnessing these diverse forces and qualities. Inclusion puts diversity into action by creating an environment of involvement, respect, and connection—where everyone's ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are valued. "First and foremost, I have been encouraged by the enthusiastic response from all corners of the campus. The genuine and sincere sense of support for the diversity and inclusion initiative has been profound. We still have work to do, but our momentum is going in the right direction and I know we will reach our goals." DR. MELISSA MORRISS-OLSON, PROVOST T H E B O A R D I S O N B O A R D From the beginning, Bay Path's Board of Trustees took ownership of the initiative. Workshops, structured conversations, and special sessions were held with Dr. Amir Ahmed, a social justice educator and consultant, and Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College and author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? The Board's role cannot be underestimated. In fact, according to Peter Eckel and Cathy Trower, authors of Boards and Institutional Diversity: Missed Opportunities, Points of Leverage, "…boards have

• Cover