DEI Actions
- Creation of a Student DEI Committee/Club that reports to the Chief, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement
- NOVA will complete the first phase of an Action Plan associated with our designation as an AAC&U Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center (TRHT) college. Coordinated communication plan around what Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Centers are, as well as introduction to Rx Racial Healing Circles at the DEI Campus Committee level.
- Offer "healing circles" on NOVA campuses to facilitate conversations and connection as well as relationship building.
- NOVA will develop online training for adjunct faculty, FT faculty, and staff related to disability rights including effective communication, print accessibility, and the definition of reasonable accommodations for faculty.
- NOVA will remove barriers for students and employees with disabilities by conducting annual accessibility audits by an objective third-party expert to ensure all employees and students are accommodated in the workplace or classroom. The additional "best practice" audit will be done by HR, the Office of DEI and in coordination with the appropriate Student Services leadership position(s).
- Provide Mental Health First Aid professional development and training to faculty/staff each semester at least twice. The Office of Mental health/First Aid will offer faculty and staff two opportunities per semester for virtual trainings to assist them dealing with students in need of support.
- Assess climate data on DEI attitudes and sentiments around reporting practices. Coordinate efforts to improve communication on how individuals (students, employees, etc.) can use existing college processes for reporting discrimination and bias or other issues related to Title IX, EEO, etc.
- The LO Campus DEI Committee and LO Campus Forum will create at least three DEI events on the LO Campus (i.e. Multicultural Awareness Week, International Education week, and a Developing Loudoun @ Lunch Series) to facilitate small group conversations related to intergroup relations. LO Forum Council and LO DEI Committee will develop a communication strategy and plan logistics for a successful International Education Week and Developing Loudoun Leaders @ Lunch series. LO Campus will assist Provost in reviewing campus spaces to identify DEI needs related to building and campus operations.
- The MEC Campus Forum Council will encourage the use of a selection criteria that is evidence-based, inclusive, and equitable for the 2022 admission cycle to reflect the demographics of NOVA. The responsible parties will research and craft a white paper that examines the impact of moderating variables (family composition, access to childcare, funds to cover tuition, transportation, race, etc.) on competitive admissions. Project work will commence upon receipt of objective approval and will be completed within 12 months.
- The AL DEI Campus Committee and Campus Forum will conduct annual DEI Walks to view our campus through the lens of its diverse community. The committee will apply the lens via variables such as English language learners, ability, veteran status, and LGBTQ+ statuses to review how common areas, restrooms, as well as signage in other forms communicates the campus as a welcoming space. Tours will occur using equity mindedness, in addition a series of workshops will be developed and a summary of findings from the review will be available.
- Create and support a MA Campus Unity Lounge for Students (physical space on campus) and create and support a MA Campus Virtual Unity Lounge for Faculty and Staff or work with the Office of DEI to create a college-wide space of a similar nature. Regarding the Unity Lounge for Students (assuming relaxed COVID-19 protocols) MA Campus Forum and DEI Committee will secure space, plan kick-off events for Spring 2022/Fall 2023. Also, the leadership team for MA Campus will collaborate with MA SGA and MA DEI Student Council to create student-friendly space.
- The AN Campus Forum Council will audit the physical spaces of the AN Campus in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 and work collaboratively with the AN DEI Campus Committee in developing goals towards additional and more attractive campus spaces with an eye towards use by all. A better understanding of developing safe spaces and attention to our LGBTQ+ colleagues and students will be explored as well as confidential spaces for faculty/student conversations. Additionally, the AN Forum Council and DEI Committee will advocate with campus leadership involved in the renovation of campus spaces regarding the goals of inclusive spaces; request forum member inclusion in conversations regarding space allocations at the campus, and (if appropriate) conduct a survey of campus members to follow-up on climate results.
- Broaden the relationship that the WO Campus has with the Future Kings, which is a community partner that works to support exposure of underrepresented minority students in STEM fields. Broaden the relationship the WO Campus has with The LIBRE initiative, a community organization that delivers free ESL instruction at the WO campus.
- Marketing will create guidelines for best practices for DEI marketing campaigns and partner with web team to complete site navigation and design and incorporate new website section into brand training college wide. Marketing will assist with a video promotion for the website that communicates NOVA's commitment to Inclusive Excellence, which will be featured on the website and in other ways to promote the college commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Student Services (i.e. AVP for Engagement and Retention and/or Director of Student Leadership and Engagement) will identify a strategy to either scale up existing boutique mentorship programs that target underserved communities and/or fold them into a formal relaunch effort for college-wide mentorship activities that is more sustainable than previous efforts.
Responsible Unit |
Engagement and Retention; Student Services, Director of Student Leadership and Engagement; Student Government Association (SGA) |
Measures |
Structure implemented, first meeting. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
Office of DEI; DEI Campus Committees |
Measures |
Effective marketing around the founding principles of Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Centers, and participation in Healing Circles by members of DEI Committees. Development of a plan to offer healing circles to a broader community of NOVA stakeholders. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
Office of DEI; DEI Campus Committees |
Measures |
NOVA will have a model to develop training for volunteers who wish to become co-facilitators in the Circle method. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
HR; Student Services; Wellness/Disability Services in coordination with Academic Deans Council (ADC) and Council for Associate Deans (CAD); Office of DEI |
Measures |
Deans and associate deans will work with Accommodations and Accessibility Services to determine the timing of training throughout the semester to be compatible with the faculty's other responsibilities |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
HR; Student Services, Wellness/Disability Services in coordination with Academic Deans Council (ADC) and Council for Associate Deans (CAD); Office of DEI |
Measures |
The Office of DEI, HR, and Student Services will complete an annual audit of how well NOVA is meeting the needs of students and employees with disabilities. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
Director of Wellness and Mental Health. |
Measures |
Number of MHFA classes held. 20 faculty/staff trained at each offering (maximum allowed by CSB). |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; OIR; HR; Student Services; Title IX Officer; EEO Officer, etc. |
Measures |
Recommendations to Admin Council on how to improve various bias or discrimination reporting processes. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
LO Campus Forum Chair; LO Campus DEI Committee |
Measures |
Number of events, number of participants at each event, and data from assessment of events. The goal is for at least 175 participants reached per academic year and positive results from assessment data. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
MEC Campus Forum Chair; MEC Campus DEI Committee |
Measures |
Completion of a draft of equitable and evidence-based selection criteria in Summer 2021. Release of white paper on recommendations Fall 2021. Collection of feedback Spring 2022, and additional final recommendations with strong urgency to implement. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
AL Campus Forum Chair; AL Campus DEI Committee |
Measures |
Results of the campus assessment will be available by Spring 2022. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
MA Campus Forum Chair; MA Campus DEI Committee |
Measures |
Unity Lounge for Students: student use of space, events held in space will be in place by Spring 2022 and/or a project timeline will be available. Further, by Spring 2022, the Unity Lounge for Faculty and Staff will be available, and data will be provided on use of the site. One metric is feedback from participants about the space and how to improve it. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
AN Campus Forum Chair; AN DEI Committee |
Measures |
Completion of audit, continued collaboration of efforts between AN DEI Committee and AN Forum Council. Survey completion. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
WO Campus Forum Chair; WO DEI Committee |
Measures |
Number of presentations or networking events, and number of participants at those events. Assessment data collected and shared. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
NOVA Marketing; NOVA Web Services |
Measures |
Completion of two promotional videos that promote DEI efforts. Completion of updated advertising buys on social media that bolster our commitment to meeting DEI outcomes such as closing equity gaps in enrollment and retention for student groups that are underrepresented and undersupported. The following data will be tracked and reported annually to CDEIO for all DEI marketing campaigns: impressions, click-through rate, and conversion. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
|
Responsible Unit |
VP for Student Services and affiliate leadership teams. |
Measures |
Completion of a recommendation plan for mentorship programs that align with our DEI efforts and focus on building mentorship programs to scale. |
Due Date |
July 2022. |
Results |
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