Diversity at Keuka
The Keuka College Diversity Taskforce, created in the spring of 2008 by former President Joseph Burke, is charged with identifying issues and developing recommendations to initiate and sustain a systemic diversity plan for the College. This effort will strive to create an inclusive college and community environment.
Over the next three years, the initiative will focus on five areas of interest: the College’s cultural climate and perception of the institution; access and retention of students of color and other under-represented groups; recruiting and retaining faculty and staff of color and other under-represented groups; collection and analysis of data; and an in-depth look at how issues of diversity are addressed within student life (i.e. academics, co-curricular, facilities, and residence life).
The Diversity Taskforce will assess the campus climate and recommend relevant action to benefit all constituents — traditional and non-traditional students, commuter as well as residential students, and persons of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religious status and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, socio-economic status, age, culture, language, physical or mental ability, gender identity and expression, and region of origin.
What the Diversity Taskforce Is Not
- An adjudication body for hate crimes or racial incidents
- An affirmative action committee
- Involved in program development or delivery
Charge of Taskforce
The Diversity Taskforce will create a strategic plan for diversity and multiculturalism that will promote an atmosphere that will foster understanding, acceptance, and celebration of differences at Keuka and in the surrounding communities. In doing so, we will encourage social responsibility and diversity, adapt to changing societal needs, and value global perspectives. Diversity will be evident and demonstrated in our offerings of academic programs, campus and residential life programming, and makeup of our student body, faculty and staff. The taskforce will begin its work by:
- Looking at the data currently available as well as decide what additional information is needed;
- Developing and disseminating a definition of diversity as it relates to Keuka College, along with a list of relevant vocabulary;
- Developing assessment tools to evaluate campus climate.
