Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council

Mission Statement

The Multicultural Council promotes and sustains inclusive excellence by creating an environment where all are valued, develop their full potential and contribute to the success of the campus and the community.

Vision Statement

To be recognized for educational leadership, service and citizenship by infusing justice, equity, diversity and respect throughout the campus.

Goals

1. Promote inclusiveness through academic excellence across the campus community
2. Improve the multicultural climate at SUNY Cortland and the Cortland community
3. Coordinate and collaborate on policies for diversity related activities on campus
4. Ensure all forms of professional development are consistent with the mission of the Council
5. Review, support and advocate for access to grievance structures related to the unfair and/or biased treatment of, but not limited to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or disability
6. Provide leadership for an ongoing dialog which values and acknowledges that learners have multiple identities where race and ethnicity intersect with gender, class, sexual orientation, national/regional origin, ability and religion. -- from Making Excellence Inclusive, AAC&U, p.v.

Composition of Council

Greg Sharer, Vice President of Student Affairs, Co-Chair
Dr. Mark Prus, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Co-Chair
Dawn Norcross, Affirmative Action Officer, Human Resources
Dr. Virginia Levine, Executive Assistant to the President, President’s Office
Nanette Pasquarello, Title IX Coordinator, President’s Office
Dr. Sebastian Purcell, Assistant Professor in Philosophy, Co-Coordinator Latino Latin-American Studies
Dr. Bruce Mattingly, Dean of Arts and Sciences
Kharman Wingard, Senior Admissions Advisor
Tom Cranfield, Assistant Men’s Ice Hockey Coach
Dr. Carolyn Bershad, Director of Counseling and Student Development
Ralph Carrasquillo, Director of Residence Life and Housing      
Esa Merson, Director of Academic Support and Achievement Program
Dr. Lewis Rosengarten, Director of Educational Opportunity Program
Juanita Larrabee, Manager, Contracts and Compliance, Facilities Planning Design and Construction
Mary K. Murphy, Associate Vice President for Finance
Michael Sgro, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council Subcommittees:

1. Inclusive Climate Committee – this subcommittee would be tasked with first defining climate and the areas of concern related to climate and then working to make a recommendation to the council about strategies to address/improve climate issues at SUNY Cortland. The committee will want to make themselves aware of existing surveys and data that are done institutionally and decide how to use that data as well as complement those surveys.
Chair: Lewis Rosengarten
Members: Ginny Levine, Sebastian Purcell, Abby Thomas, Mecke Nagel, Rhonda Moulton

2. Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Profile – this subcommittee would be tasked with research and recommendation around how to elevate our diversity and inclusion presence for the purposes of attracting and recruiting new faculty/staff/students to the SUNY Cortland community. This might include looking at website, materials, outreach, and advertisement around searches and admissions. Dawn and I have been working on this but would like to see a small committee bring this to fruition. There are examples and best practices that can be shared.
Chairs: Dawn Norcross and Bruce Mattingly
Members: Michael Sgro, AnnaMaria Cirrincione, Seth Asumah, Marinda Souva, Mary Kate Boland

3. Welcoming and First Point of Contact Behaviors – this subcommittee would be tasked with looking at what we do and what we could be doing to welcome and retain those who have chosen SUNY Cortland as their new community.
Chair: Ralph Carrasquillo
Members: Carolyn Bershad, Esa Merson, Lori Schlicht, Kharmen Wingard, Marie Blanden, Michael Bersani

4. Bias Related Protocol and Prevention Strategies – this subcommittee would be tasked with working with responsible agents on campus to revise, implement, and oversee the bias related protocol and processes from reporting intake through possible sanction recommendations (student conduct). This would include but not be limited to: revision and distribution of the bias related protocol, development of an intake instrument, education, and maintenance of such a process. Gemma and I have talked about this and have some examples and suggestions.
Chair, Gemma Rinefierd
Members: Greg Sharer, Nan Pasquarello, Christopher Kuretich, Jean Brown, Vicki Wilkins