Memorandum

Date: May 5, 2017

To: MICA Community

From: Co-Chairs of the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Globalization

• Samuel Hoi, President
• Clyde Johnson, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Intercultural Development
• Colette Veasey-Cullors, Chair, Photography Department

Re: Updates from the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Globalization

We write to update you on the efforts of the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Globalization (Task Force) as it is winding down Year Two and nearing the end of its work. All related materials to the Task Force are available at this dedicated website - www.mica.edu/campusinclusivity.

The efforts of the Task Force during this academic year have built on the foundation of its work in 2015 - 2016 as detailed in this report. A few highlights from this current year's work are as follows:

• Aligned the recommendations from the October 2016 Diversity Audit Report with those of the July 2015 Power & Equity Forum recommendations. This goal of this alignment is to ensure that the final recommendations of the Task Force will fully consider and coordinate with the ideas and priorities from these two important campus efforts.
• Reviewed MICA's Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) with a diversity, equity, inclusion, and globalization (DEIG) lens to propose language to reinforce DEIG, as well as community engagement, elements. The goal of this examination is to guide DEIG curricular and co-curricular adherence from the highest level of the College's educational commitments.
• Trained search committees to implement best DEIG practices for hiring policies. E.g., Hiring guidelines and faculty job descriptions have been revised to reflect DEIG goals; review of diversity of the applicant pool at various stages of the process is more intentional; and a protocol for following a consistent and equitable search & hiring process has been added.
• The launch of the Making Democracy platform that advances MICA's Core Values by developing programs surrounding themes of democratic practice, civic action, freedom of expression, immigration, equity, citizenship, information literacy, the public good, and the role of art and design in moments of change and upheaval.

The five sub-committees in 2015 - 2016 were streamlined into three sub-committees in 2016 - 2017: Vision & Accountability, Structuralization & Development, and Programming & Engagement. All three groups are working on their final work reports and recommendations. They will be posted to the dedicated website by May 19.

Over the summer, we as co-chairs will work with a sub-group of the Task Force to compile these committee reports, review their content, prioritize their recommendations with associated actions, and shape a final report to be shared with the campus community in September 2017.

This final report will offer, as promised in the College's February 26, 2015 Public Response to the Black Students Union Open Letter, "a college-wide, multi-year plan to achieve a more equitable, diverse, and reflective place of learning at MICA. In the context of our educational mission, we seek to deploy diversity as a catalyst for creativity, educational excellence, and responsible engagement." The report will address the July 2015 recommendations of the Power and Equity Forum. Aside from a concrete work plan, the final report will describe an accountability monitoring group that oversees ongoing work to implement the plan. The intended impact is a shift in campus culture and a structuralization of new policies and practices.

The Task Force is committed to fulfill its charge and deliver a defined road map for MICA's improvement to and sustainability of diversity, equity, inclusion, and globalization.