As the College enters the 2024-25 academic year, we now seek to finalize the full integration of The Initiative. This includes dedicated and strategic efforts by the Dean of the Faculty’s Office, the Athenaeum, the Open Academy, the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Admission and Financial Aid, the Office of Advancement, Human Resources, the Office of Civil Rights, CMS Athletics, the Diversity Committee, and many other departments.
Among the key integrations:
- The Dean of the Faculty’s Office supports diverse and inclusive faculty recruitment practices, as well as faculty grants for curricular development, teaching retreats, networking and mentoring, and faculty and student research on issues connected to diversity, race and ethnicity, or social difference.
- The Athenaeum and the Open Academy provide a rich set of programs with diverse perspectives and community engagement on issues connected to diversity, race and ethnicity, or social difference.
- In partnership with the Office of Civil Rights, the Dean of Students Office leads the CARE Center, our co- and extra-curricular constructive dialogue workshops, and support for student organizations.
- The Office of Admission and Financial Aid spearheads outreach, recruiting, and enrollment support.
- The Office of Advancement pursues fundraising and alumni and parent engagement in support of our institutional commitments.
- The Office of Human Resources provides leadership and support for learning within our faculty, staff, students and institution-wide commitments to civil rights, diversity, and equitable recruitment, hiring, and professional development.
- The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for advising and supporting the College’s commitments consistent with The Initiative and developing a cohesive institutional framework integrating opportunities and education on diversity, First Amendment, and academic freedom.
- CMS Athletics focuses on recruitment, capacity building, and community engagement, including increased outreach to athletes from a broad array of backgrounds and experiences, as well as education and training for coaches in creating team dynamics that are inclusive and selecting athletes that further the College's mission and commitment to responsible leadership.
- The Diversity Committee serves as an opportunity for faculty, students, and administration to collaborate in supporting The Initiative by fostering discussions on diversity through promoting curriculum diversity, offering diversity-related programming and training sessions, reviewing campus climate survey results, and working on cooperative efforts with the other Claremont Colleges. The Committee is also tasked with evaluating frameworks to measure progress and support accountability, which includes discussing issues that arise on campus and providing recommendations to the President.
- In addition to these established departments and committees, The Initiative also built several working groups. These working groups of alumni, faculty, students, and staff are now integrated into formal programs at the College:
- The alumni working group has been integrated into the CMC Alumni Association. The current president was a member of the initial working group. The Alumni Association has added a statement against racism and created programming and outreach to further support inclusion of more diverse perspectives in alumni engagement.
- The faculty working group has been integrated into the Diversity Committee, which includes faculty, students, and staff. A faculty-only working group is included as a subcommittee.
- The student working group has been integrated into the ASCMC Diversity Committee and participates in collaboration with the Diversity Committee.
- The staff working group has been integrated into the creation of additional learning and development opportunities for staff, including an advisory council for the Director of Learning and Development and the annual staff conference.