The Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) works collaboratively across the university on a range of diversity and inclusion efforts. This section will provide updates into related initiatives and happenings for the university community.
In March 2016, Father Engh convened a formal Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. This group of community leaders, alumni, campus representatives worked over the course of 2016 and developed a formal report that was submitted. This report was made available in Winter Quarter 2016 and is available HERE.
Following the release of the Blue Ribbon Commission Report in Winter 2017, Father Engh asked the University Cooordinating Council (UCC) to develop a formal Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion to review the Blue Ribbon recommendations and to develop a strategy for implementation. The Task Force consisted of members from the faculty, staff and students. It started meeting in mid-March 2017 and throughout the Spring quarter and submitted its final report to Father Engh in early July 2017. The formal Task Force Report on Diversity and Inclusion is available.
In September 2017, Father Engh issued an Email to SCU Community that formally shared the Task Force report and then indicated that Dr. Ray Plaza, would serve as a Project Manager and assist with the next steps.
Over the course of the 2017 - 2018 academic year, the Project Manager held consultations with the stakeholder groups and developed formal strategies. As the Project Manager, he provided recommendations through engagement with the Planning Action Council (PAC). PAC was asked to review potential priority areas among the Task Force recommendations and to further prioritize the areas of greatest need for the institution.
One of the key items related to the Blue Ribbon Commission and endorsed by the Task Force was the full launch of the Campus Climate Study effort in January 2018. It was agreed that the next steps would be determined by the results of the Campus Climate Study.
- Task Force Recommendations and their alignment with the Campus Climate Areas: Status Update and Color Coding .
(Please note that the Status Update does not reflect efforts that took place in 2019/2020 in light of the identification of the Campus Climate Priority Areas. A new update will be done in Summer 2020)
In May 2019, then-SCU President Michael Engh, S.J., appointed a 10-member Ohlone History Working Group to review the current markers and monuments that honor the history of the Ohlone people on campus; consult with Ohlone representatives about their views on the most appropriate ways to honor their ancestors; consult and review commemorations of Native Peoples at other California Missions; and draft recommendations.
Their full report was presented to President Kevin O’Brien, S.J., in summer 2020 and Ohlone Report is now available.