Early this afternoon, Barnard students and staff received an email from Interim President and COO Rob Goldberg on a new Council on Diversity and Inclusion. This Council is being established as a result of the Presidential Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion’s work over the past year. Its goals include to “expand the dialogue about diversity, inclusion and equity” and “advise Barnard’s senior leadership and the Board of Trustees on ways to create a more inclusive community.” If this sounds a bit vague, you can read the Council’s charter for more elaboration.

The new Council will consist of three students (representing the classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020), three faculty members (representing tenured, non-tenured, and renewed and renewable faculty), two administrative staff members, two collective bargaining unit staff members, two trustees, and two alumni. The students will serve one-year renewable terms, while all other members will serve one- to three-year renewable terms. Current plans are for the Council to meet on Thursdays starting on September 14, with times rotating between 9 to 10:30 am and 4 to 5:30 pm.

Nominations for the Council can be made from today until May 15 on this Google form. The committee members will then be selected by Interim President Goldberg and Debra Minkoff, sociology professor, Dean for Faculty Diversity and Development, co-chair of the Task Force, and initial chair of the Council. Any questions about the Council can be directed to presidentsoffice@barnard.edu.

Dear Members of the Barnard Community,

As I have reported to you over the past few weeks, the Presidential Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion has continued to meet regularly to implement key recommendations coming out of its year-long effort. One outcome of the Task Force’s work is the establishment of a permanent Council on Diversity and Inclusion. This new Council is intended to expand the dialogue about diversity, inclusion and equity; promote and coordinate campus-wide participation in these efforts; manage the implementation of the Task Force recommendations; and advise Barnard’s senior leadership and the Board of Trustees on ways to create a more inclusive community.

I am pleased to announce that my office is accepting nominations for the Council on Diversity and Inclusion. The Council’s charter, adopted by the Task Force, is available on the Barnard website: https://barnard.edu/vision-values/diversity-inclusion/committees-initiatives.

I have asked Debra Minkoff, Miriam Scharfman Zadek Family Professor of Sociology and Dean for Faculty Diversity and Development, to be the initial chair of the Council. Professor Minkoff served as co-chair of the Task Force, and I am grateful for her continued leadership on these issues.

The Council will be comprised of representatives from across the entire Barnard community. Membership will include:

-Three students, for one-year renewable terms, representing the classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020.

-Three faculty members, for one-to-three-year terms, representing tenured, non-tenured, and renewed and renewable faculty.

-Two exempt (administrative) staff members, for one-to-three-year terms.

-Two non-exempt (collective bargaining unit) staff, for one-to-three-year terms.

-Two trustees, for one-to-three-year terms.

-Two alumnae, for one-to-three-year terms.

The work of the Council will be intensive. Beginning on September 14, 2017, we envision meeting bi-weekly on Thursdays. The time of the meetings will rotate between 9-10:30 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.

Nominations for the Council can be made online and will be accepted through May 15, 2017: https://goo.gl/forms/DPhqyB0A7ZDfVtnr2. Please provide a brief statement explaining why you, or your nominee, would be a valuable member of the Council and whether you will be available to commit your time and energy to the work of the Council. Appointments will be made at my discretion, in consultation with Professor Minkoff.

Diversity and inclusion are central to the vision and values of the College, and I anticipate that many of you will be eager to serve on the Council. Please know that if you are not selected, the Council plans to have sub-committees working on campus initiatives from time-to-time, and we will need volunteers for those as well.

Any questions about the council should be directed to presidentsoffice@barnard.edu. I look forward to reviewing your nominations, and moving ahead with this important work.

Sincerely,

Rob Goldberg
Interim President & COO