Each Listening Session will have no more than 8 participants. The session will be conducted by a Facilitator with the technical support of a person who is a Recorder. Participants will be asked to respond to three question prompts about equity and inclusion.
For the purpose of these discussions, the following definitions will be used. They are borrowed from the University of Washington:
- Inclusion is the act of creating involvement, environments, and empowerment in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. An inclusive and welcoming climate with equal access to opportunities and resources embraces difference and offers respect in words and actions for all people.
- Equity is the guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all students, faculty, and staff, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that fairness regarding these unbalanced conditions is needed to assist equality in the provision of effective opportunities to all groups.
This slide depicts an important distinction between the terms equality and equity.
The question prompts that Participants will respond to are:
- Is Baruch College an inclusive and equitable environment for all members of the College community? In what ways? In what ways is it not?
- How is equity or inequity experienced at Baruch College?
- If you were president of the College and there were no political or budgetary restraints, what is the first thing you would do to promote an equitable and inclusive college community?
Facilitators for these sessions are drawn from the campus community. Here is a list of the facilitators who will be conducting these sessions: (with a table of their names, and self-descriptions) see attached.
