Three years after our university launched the Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, we can point to significant gains in awareness, insight and inspiration across our campus. From the Power of Diversity Lecture Series to the annual award luncheon, the office provides rich offerings that give new perspectives and recognize outstanding contributions.

 

The office's newest programs include Train the Champion, an eight-month course where participants learn about the potential impact of differences among constituents relating to age, gender, race, disability and more. With regular conversations and ongoing reflection, participants explore ways to ensure this diversity benefits our community and its constituents.

 

In 2011 the office also worked to develop the university's first Diversity Strategic Action Plan. This comprehensive process involved conversations with literally dozens of faculty, staff, students and members of the community, and demonstrated the great interest that exists in this key university priority. Our challenge going forward will be to continue the momentum created by these conversations, and translate them into concrete, positive actions.

 

I commend Marilyn Mobley, our vice president for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, for her leadership of this planning process and many other activities. I applaud the office's staff, as well as the Diversity Leadership Council, for their efforts to maintain and build upon our existing progress. Finally, I thank all of the members of our campus community for everything that they do to advance diversity at Case Western Reserve each day.

 

Barbara R. Snyder
President Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University aspires to be an inclusive environment, believing that the creative energy and variety of insights that result from diversity are a vital component of the intellectual rigor and social fabric of the university.

 

As a scholarly community, Case Western Reserve is inclusive of people of all racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, national and international backgrounds, welcoming diversity of thought, pedagogy, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, political affiliation and disability.

 

We believe in a culture of inclusion that encourages relationships and interactions among people of different backgrounds, a culture that enhances human dignity, actively diminishes prejudice and discrimination and improves the quality of life for everyone in our community.