Anti-Racism, Equity, & Inclusion (A.E.I.) Taskforce Initiatives
In June 2020, a 25-member Taskforce comprised of FSU community members representing faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as members of the local community, was assembled by former President Thrasher. The AEI Taskforce charge was to evaluate FSU's advancement of Goal III of the Strategic Plan: Realize the University's Full Potential of Diversity and Inclusion and to identify opportunities for institutional growth in the areas of anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. The Taskforce was chaired by Dr. Maxine Montgomery, led by a three-person executive committee, and organized into three subcommittees: 1) Recruitment and Retention, 2) Historical Legacy, and 3) Campus Climate.
From August 2020 - May 2021, the Taskforce convened weekly, with all meetings open to the public. At the end of the appointment, the Taskforce provided the former president with over 30 recommendations, all of which were reviewed and most were approved. In June 2021, the approved initiatives were assigned to administrative offices for implementation and currently fall within one of four completion statuses:
Not Started, In Progress, Complete (Done), or Complete (Ongoing).
The charts below detail the progress of AEI Taskforce initiatives. The histogram on the left displays initiative progress divided by subcommittee. The donut chart on the right displays overall progress on all initiatives.
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Charge: Advance the recruitment and professional development of underrepresented minority students, faculty, and staff with increased pathways to tenure-track and leadership positions within the university.
Initiatives:
- Adopt an online Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) educational tool to be utilized by faculty, staff, and students
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources, Division of Student Affairs, Institutional Research
- Review Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plans at the college and/or department level(s)
- Status: Complete (Ongoing) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources, Academic Affairs
- Augment Diverse Recruitment & Hiring Process and Training
- Status: In progress | Responsible Parties: Human Resources
- Establish professional development program for Administrative & Professional and University Support Personnel System staff from underrepresented groups with a focus on leadership development and professional advancement
- Status: Completed (Ongoing) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources
- Conduct a feasibility study of the possible implementation of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Faculty Exchange Program
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Academic Affairs, Faculty Development & Advancement
- Develop an institutional mentoring program to provide support to underrepresented minority junior and mid-career faculty in relation to promotion and tenure
- Status: Complete | Responsible Parties: Academic Affairs, Faculty Development & Advancement
- Expansion of faculty / staff Affinity Groups and associated support
- Status: Complete (Ongoing) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources
- Exploration and expansion of graduate recruitment pipeline programs such as the McNair Scholars Fellowship
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: The Graduate School
- Review Graduate School admissions standards, such as the GRE and LSAT requirements, and make recommendations
- Status: Complete | Responsible Parties: Graduate School Policy Committee
- Expand existing High School Partners Program, explore partnership with the College Advising Corps, and examine staff resources for greater allocation to undergraduate recruitment of underrepresented minority population
- Status: Complete (Ongoing) | Responsible Parties: Academic Affairs
- Conduct analysis to determine the need and available resources for increased underrepresented minority scholarship and honors program opportunities
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Academic Affairs
- Form a working group comprised of FSU community members to develop a plan for becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources, Division of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs
- Engage in an institutional membership in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Academic Affairs
- Engage in an institutional membership in the PRISM Recruitment Portal
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources, Division of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs
Charge: Ensure that the historical legacy of the university, including dedicated facilities and monuments, encompasses the recognition and respect of all identity groups represented at Florida State.
Initiatives:
- Permanent public acknowledgement of Florida State University's main campus location on the ancestral and traditional territory of the Apalachee Nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership
- Public acknowledgement of the labor of enslaved and free African and African-descended people in the construction of Florida State University's main campus
- Status: In progress | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership
- Appoint (1) non-employee to the existing Committee on Campus Naming and review the names of existing university structures to ensure they are in alignment with the Campus Naming policy
- Status: In progress | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership
- Develop a proposal to construct an interdisciplinary Native American and Indigenous Studies Center
- Status: In progress | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership
- Develop and expand the First-Year Experience Module that emphasizes anti-racism, equity, and inclusion at the University
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership, History Department, FSU Libraries
- Permanent removal of the Francis W. Eppes Statue from open-air public display and curated with accurate historical context in an alternative location
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership
- Pursue legislative action during the 2020-2021 Florida Governmental Session, and continuing thereafter, to remove B.K. Roberts's name from the Law School Building. Alternatively, provide contextualized recognition of B.K. Roberts at a designated location within the College of Law
- Status: Complete (Ongoing) | Responsible Parties: Senior Leadership
- In partnership with The Riley House, institutionalize and support the development of the History Department and University Libraries' module documenting the history of Florida State University in relation to race and ethnicity with particular emphasis on the experiences of African Americans and American Indians
- Status: In progress | Responsible Parties: Academic Affairs, FSU Civil Rights Institute, FSU Archives
- Acknowledgement of the contributions on the part of Black and other underrepresented minority student athletes at the FSU Doak Campbell Stadium
- Status: In progress | Responsible Parties: Athletics
Charge: Cultivate a campus culture that values diversity and fosters a sense of belonging for students, staff, faculty, and community members who collaborate with, take pride in, and support the university.
Initiatives:
- Review all University contracts and related agreements for inclusion of terms and conditions that prohibit any actions or practices that violate the Fair Labor Standards Act and Human Trafficking Laws and Regulations
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: General Counsel, Procurement
- Conduct a campus-wide climate survey to improve the University in issues of anti-racism, equity, and inclusion
- Status: Complete (Done) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Division of Student Affairs
- Host institutionalized university-wide events focusing on anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Determine appropriate recurring funding sources, expand participant access to events, and develop supplemental programming focused on anti-racism
- Status: Complete (Ongoing) | Responsible Parties: Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Division of Student Affairs