Building an Environment of Inclusive Excellence

The importance of acknowledging, respecting and celebrating the contributions of every community member is a Kent State value that led to the creation of the university's Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. One of the division's innovative efforts to build a more inclusive environment was its "100 Commitments" initiative. The yearlong project asked individuals and units on every campus to commit to bringing the goal of inclusive excellence to life in ways large and small - from watching relevant movies to volunteering with social-service organizations to engaging in dialogue with community members from different cultures. More than 1,000 students and employees participated in this opportunity to explore Kent State's rich diversity of people and ideas.