MSCHE Self Study April 2021

Pursuant to State University of New York policy, the College of Optometry is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the College community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. Applicable laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New York State Human Rights Law. A Nondiscrimination Notice is posted on the College’s website. As part of its compliance activity, as well as its commitment to diversity in all its programs, the College has a Committee on Affirmative Action and Cultural Diversity that is composed of faculty, staff, students and the director of human resources (ex officio). The Committee addresses issues related to the promotion of cultural diversity and equal opportunity for all of the College’s constituencies and makes recommendations in this regard. The assistant vice president for human resources serves as the College’s affirmative action officer, and Dr. Guiherme Albieri, SUNY Optometry’s vice president for student affairs, serves as chief diversity officer. To support its efforts to support diversity, the College has with broad support developed a Diversity and Inclusion Master Plan 2016 ‐ 2020. The diversity and inclusion mission of the College is “To instill and celebrate diversity, inclusion, and equity in every aspect of the College’s operations.” This mission will be accomplished through the creation of a supportive learning and working environment built on understanding, acceptance, respect, and valuing the beliefs of other cultures, religions and identities. A Diversity Report submitted to SUNY System Administration in summer, 2018 summarizes the College’s efforts in this regard. Recruitment of minority faculty is one of the recommendations outlined in the report. In June 2020, against the backdrop of social unrest following the murder of George Floyd, President Heath established a Task Force on Race and Equity (TFRE) with the broad goal of establishing an ongoing and sustainable effort that ensures ours is a diverse, inclusive and dynamic community that is safe, honest and open, and through which differences are celebrated ( TRFE Charge ). The TFRE reported directly to the president, and its work will serve as foundation for a new Diversity and Inclusion Master Plan 2021 – 2025 ( TFRE Report ). ). A priority in the November 1, 2020 report of the TFRE was to create a position and hire a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A new Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging is beginning in this position March 1, 2021.

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