Advancing Southern Towards a Social Justice University
At Southern, we are committed to identifying and addressing systemic barriers to equity, access, and success for all members of our community. We are also committed to constructive dialogues where we treat one another with dignity, respect, kindness, compassion and civility as we share varying perspectives, with the goal of creating a culture of inclusion and belonging.
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, provides transformative institutional leadership and assistance in engaging and holding Southern members to create initiatives with measurable outcomes that will transform and dismantle systemic racism and oppressive hierarchies and build equitable communities that drive and measure progress across Southern.
Critical to our success is each understanding that a one-way approach will not help us advance this work. We must also allow space for open and honest conversations to the critique and approach to our work with a deep commitment to a spirit of collective liberation. We invite students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community members to join us in the work to transform lives and cultivate a vision for all at Southern.
Vision
The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion envisions a diverse, inclusive, and just university willing to engage in institutional transformation where humanity, belonging, community, and system change are priorities in all we do.
Mission
- Recognizing DEI is a shared responsibility, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provides strategic leadership to Southern Connecticut State University by:
- Collaborating between university divisions to create a space of belonging for diverse students, staff, faculty, and alumni
- Fostering an environment of communal care and healing through restorative practices and principles
- Addressing historically oppressive structures and instances of bias and discrimination to advance equity for all
- Cultivating opportunities for learning and development
- Ensuring university compliance regarding state and federal regulations and policies around non-discrimination
- Assessing progress utilizing evidence-based practices in all we do
- To positively impact the campus culture, alumni, and the communities we serve