CALS_Background
Background
- College/Unit: CALS
- IE Action Plan Category: Background
- Title of Plan: University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Inclusive Excellence Action Plan 2022-2027
- The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Vermont is home to students, faculty, and staff from six academic departments, three cross-college undergraduate programs, and UVM Extension. CALS engages in teaching, research, and community outreach activities that promote sustainability, health, and well-being at scales ranging from cells to society. CALS reaches across Vermont with a strong and visible presence on campus coupled with farms, research facilities, and Extension offices in nearly every county of the state. CALS focuses on natural environments, agriculture, social and biological scholarship, and community engagement to serve Vermont, while translating our impact across the world. In this context, we define our mission and vision as follows: Mission - Our mission is to deliver collaborative, transformative research, academics, and outreach that create critical thinkers and problem solvers to build resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and healthy communities and environments. Vision - We envision a college that moves society continuously towards science-informed decisions to help our community and environments thrive. The CALS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee was established in 2019 to collaborate with both the Dean and College faculty, staff, and students to develop College-level initiatives that focus on matters related to equity, diversity and inclusion. During the 2019-2020 academic year the EDI Committee codified its mission, definitions and by-laws, institutionalizing it as a standing committee of the College. The Committee consists of representatives from each unit within CALS and members are appointed for a one-year term, renewable up to three years. Since its establishment in 2019, the Committee has carried out its charge to consult with and advise the CALS Dean on matters pertaining to diversity and inclusion and advance strategic priorities surrounding DEI initiatives within the College, including the development of this Inclusive Excellence Action Plan. The College uses the following definitions of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, developed by the CALS EDI Committee and adopted in 2020: Equity: Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness within the procedures and processes of institutions or systems, as well as in their distribution of resources. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society. Diversity: Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. While diversity is often used in reference to race, ethnicity, and gender, we embrace a broader definition of diversity that also includes age, national origin, religion, ability status, sexual orientation, class, veteran status, socioeconomic status, ability, education level, marital status, language, and body size. Our definition also includes diversity of thought: ideas, perspectives, and values. We also recognize that individuals affiliate with multiple identities. Inclusion: Inclusion is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate, and conditions that support a sense of belonging across multiple identities and communities. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people. It’s important to note that while an inclusive group is by definition, diverse, a diverse group isn’t always inclusive. Some units within CALS have also established committees focusing on issues relating to equity, diversity and inclusion. For example, Extension’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, established in fall 2019, predates the existence of the College-level EDI Committee and consists of faculty and staff throughout the organization. Current membership (Fall 2022) includes: Chis Callahan, Mark Isselhardt, Scott Lewins, Becky Maden, Allison Smith and Sara Stowell. In addition, the Department of Plant Biology has established a DEI committee focusing on increasing DEI initiatives in the department; other departments have identified a DEI spokesperson to address DEI concerns while others are considering their own committees. Representatives of all committees were consulted in the development of this plan and will be integral to its implementation. Units within the College • Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences • Department of Community Development and Applied Economics • Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics • Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences • Department of Plant Biology • Department of Plant and Soil Science • UVM Extension
Inclusive Excellence Committee/Implementation Team Members
- Dean Leslie Parise
- Professor Jane Molofsky
- Senior Project Manager Rachel Leslie
- Professor Yolanda Chen
- Entomology Educator Scott Lewins
- Asst. Professor Dan Tobin
- Lecturer Cory Morgan
- Lecturer Cory Morgan
- Clinical Asst. Professor Farryl Bertmann
Unit(s) within College, Division, Department or Unit
- Department: A&S Dean' s Ofc
- Department: Animal and Veterinary Sciences
- Department: Com Dev & Applied Economics
- Department: Ext - SARE
- Department: Ext - Sustainable Agricltr Ctr
- Department: Nutrition & Food Sciences
- Department: Plant & Soil Science
- Department: Plant Biology