Diversity and Inclusion Master Plan

The IDEA project (Increasing Diversity by Engaging All) was implemented in mid-January 2012 thanks to a mini-grant from ASCO together with contributions from the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY) , the College’s affiliated foundation . The purpose of IDEA is to enroll traditionally underrepresented minority students into SUNY College of Optometry’s professional OD program by portraying the profession of optometry, through a social media strategy, as an exciting and viable career path, and to provide students with the skills and knowledge to become competitive applicants.

After 4 years of significant achievements, in 2015-16 funding ended from ASCO and OCNY. Major accomplishments of the IDEA Project for 15-16 are highlighted below:

• 13,740 total views on YouTube; this past year alone, the IDEA Initiative reached more than 3,500 views, an average of 290 views per month; • 36,500 minutes watched on YouTube channel, with 9,000 minutes watched in 15-16, an average of 24 minutes per day. • 1,939 total blog views , an 81% increase compared to last year; • On-line Admissions Camp was created and produced; nine videos have been produced and broadcasted; • Twitter followership has increased by 27%; the IDEA Initiative twitter page is averaging 31 impressions per day (number of time users see the Tweet) • Presentation of workshops on self-control, will power, and academic preparedness to targeted groups in order to help prepare underrepresented minority students for optometry school; • 7 underrepresented minority students enrolled at SUNY in the Fall of 2016 (compared to 5 the year before). A database of minority serving organizations in College and University campuses across the United States was created to aid the delivery of content created through the IDEA Initiative. This database needs to be updated since it was created in 2013. Explore Initiative The Explore Initiative is a marketing campaign designed by the Office of Students Affairs to promote the profession of optometry to students from all backgrounds. The program encourages these students to explore the profession of optometry by shadowing doctors, attending college events such as open houses, and meeting with admissions counselors for one-on-one counseling. This initiative was created based on data collected by the ASCO which indicated that many students are unaware of the profession of optometry as a viable and lucrative career, and that exposure to the profession is the number one contributing factor in students’ decision making process.

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