We would like to thank the Ad hoc Committee on Black Life at Furman for its work in completing a report that examines the Black experience at Furman. In its report, the committee made recommendations that will enhance equity and inclusion at Furman University by positively impacting the lives of our Black students, faculty, staff and alumni. The report was wide ranging in its scope and addressed the following issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion on Furman’s campus:
- Creating a system of coordinated and systemic communications
- Developing an empowered and accountable administrative infrastructure
- Examining our campus climate and culture
- Revising our curriculum and developing and supporting inclusive pedagogy
- Utilizing quantitative measures to assess and measure
We intend to examine each of these areas closely with the intent of incorporating the committee’s recommendations into our current Strategic Diversity Plan. As part of this plan, we will develop accountability measures to ensure that information regarding our progress is widely available. Already, we have completed or begun work on many items in the report, including:
- Creating a Black Alumni Council
- Revising Furman’s web site to provide more information on diversity, equity and inclusion
- Completing a proposal for a major in Africana Studies
- Revamping our bias incident response system
Finally, we would like to thank the entire community for their patience and their support as we continue to work together to build a beloved community that strives for equity while being inclusive of all.