Lafayette College attempts a new Bold Approach to Diversity and Inclusion

image courtesy of lafayette.edu

Many universities have made diversity and inclusion of student s and faculty members a priority. Within the last ten years, these universities have added programs and initiatives to their curriculums, departments, and individual colleges as means to become more inclusive to non-traditional students and faculty members. Lafayette College, a higher education institution located in Easton, Northampton County Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, has approached their diversity initiative in a different way. This new approach will focus on building a stronger relationships with the surrounding community, and promoting inclusion of minorities on all levels of the university's operations from students to administrators, by including diversity in the foundation of its core values, and not addressing inclusion as a peripheral objective.

''The position Lafayette has created is so unique because it brings diversity to the heart of the college's core values,'' said Shirley M.Ramirez, vice president for institutional planning and community engagements for Lafayette College. ''Many schools make the mistake of making diversity a special topic or sidelining it to the office of multicultural affairs.''

This new approach to institutional diversity and inclusion may prove beneficial in creating effective ways for other universities and colleges to strengthen their ability to become more inclusive to non-traditional students and faculty members. Lafayette has teamed up with other diversity organizations, and has seen it's students of color percentage double from 8% to 15% in the last 6 years.


What are your thoughts?

Do you believe that a shift in core values can create a more inclusive institution?