Kent State’s College of Communication and Information was recognized with the 2018 Unity Award for Diversity for implementing a variety of diversity courses as part of its curriculum, creating successful diversity programs, and dedicating faculty and staff to diversity initiatives within the college and the university.
The College of Communication and Information was one of the first colleges to create a full-time academic diversity outreach position. It also was the first college to work collaboratively with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to use the University Diversity Action Council (UDAC) Diversity Toolkit to develop a college-wide diversity curriculum for First-Year Experience courses. Amy Reynolds, Ph.D., dean of the College of Communication and Information, who accepted the award on behalf of the college, said these and other efforts have resulted in measurable student success. Dr. Reynolds said the college’s advising team, in collaboration with its academic outreach coordinator, conducts strategic outreach throughout the year, which has led to one of the highest underrepresented student retention rates on campus.
“This award is incredibly meaningful to all of us in the College of Communication and Information,” Dr. Reynolds said. “It’s terrific to know that our colleagues on campus support our efforts and that we are on the right path in an area that is so vital. We know that an inclusive environment rich with people who have diverse backgrounds, perspectives and ideas is critical to the future of all of our professional disciplines and to society as a whole. Everyone in our college is fully committed to continuing our progress. Diversity, equity and inclusion are guiding principles, central to who we are and everything we do.”
For more information about the Unity Award for Diversity, visit www.kent.edu/diversity/unity-award-diversity.
For more information about Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, visit www.kent.edu/diversity.