Stanford University
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in a Learning Environment (IDEAL) Team ensures that diversity is represented across the academic enterprise—from the makeup of our faculty and student body, to the way we educate our students and carry out research. The IDEAL project team began its work in fall 2018. The teams worked both independently and collaboratively to create a strategic plan to reach the goals of IDEAL. The IDEAL website includes many resources for students, faculty, and staff through its website. See more details here: https://ideal.stanford.edu/

Additionally, the Diversity and Access Office (D&A) ensures University-wide compliance with federal, state, and local regulations concerning non-discrimination and disability access. D&A's mission is to advance Stanford's commitment to diversity, equal opportunity, and affirmative action goals as well as to foster an inclusive and accessible community for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. The office also responds to concerns of unfair treatment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, and marital status. In addition, the office provides disability-related accommodations to staff, faculty and the public. The office also oversees the eight staff affinity groups. See more details here: https://diversityandaccess.stanford.edu/

Also, the Office of Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity is charged with programmatic efforts to advance inclusion and diversity among the faculty. This is carried out through incentive programs for recruitment, professional development programs, strategic communications (internal and external), and ad hoc interventions at individual, departmental and school-levels. See more details here: https://facultydevelopment.stanford.edu/

Finally, Stanford created a new position in 2021 for a Vice Provost for Institutional Equity, Access & Community. This role will serve as executive director of the university’s IDEAL and racial justice initiatives, and also direct the Office of Institutional Equity and Access, providing leadership for critical programs that support internal communities at Stanford. See details here: https://news.stanford.edu/report/2021/04/07/provosts-office-appointments-focus-inclusion-community-digital-education/

IDEAL INITIATIVE
Through the IDEAL initiative, DEI trainings for students organizations, faculty and staff are available for the campus community to reference and continue to be developed. Topics include "Accountability for Change", "Driving Culture Change Through Education", and "Recruiting Excellence."

As the IDEAL team describes, "Throughout the university, both at the institutional level as well as in individual schools and units, significant activity is currently underway to address a variety of inequities reported by members of our community. Those efforts were formalized when President Tessier-Lavigne and Provost Drell announced the IDEAL Initiative in 2018 and have accelerated in the ensuing months, particularly in the wake of the racial reckoning that occurred after the murder of George Floyd. The work being done is reflective of the university’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

We readily acknowledge that while the work to date is significant, it is not sufficient. As reflected by the survey results, we have much more to do. However, we have not been passively waiting for survey results to take action. The efforts we have been making represent action by numerous members of the Stanford community in furtherance of our collective goal of a more diverse and equitable community."

See details here: https://idealdeisurvey.stanford.edu/action-steps

ADDITIONAL TRAININGS AND ACTIVITIES
Stanford requires all faculty and staff to complete programs that encourage members of the University community to explore ways in which we can nurture respectful workplaces, classrooms, campus living spaces and programs sponsored by the University. Topics include illegal forms of gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence in our community, reporting obligations, campus resources, how to assist survivors, and how to be a positive “UPstander”. See more details here: https://harass.stanford.edu/training

All new students at Stanford are also required to attend a Faces of Community event where students witness the rich and broad diversity that contributes to the quality of excellence of the Stanford student body. Through reflection, narratives, dance, and music, current students introduce new students to the faces of our community. Following the program, new students are invited to share their thoughts about the program in a facilitated discussion. See more details here: https://orientation.stanford.edu/schedule/orientation-schedule/signature-events

All undergraduate students are additionally required to take at least one "Engaging Diversity" (ED) course to meet the "Ways" breadth requirements. ED courses have a rigorous analysis of diversity as a constituent element across social and cultural domains. ED courses show how diversity is produced, understood, and enacted. Just a couple examples of ED courses are "Introduction to Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies" and "Transforming Self and Systems: Crossing Borders of Race, Nation, Gender, Sexuality, and Class". See more details here: https://ways.stanford.edu/about/about-ways

Lastly, Residential & Dining Enterprises offers a training for new employees titled, "R&DE Workplace Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Awareness." This course teaches key concepts about regional culture, cultural awareness, diversity/inclusion and how these concepts are applied to help create R&DE's Culture of Excellence. Employees learn basic concepts about emotional intelligence (EI) and how core EI skills help to recognize and respect differences in others to effectively resolve conflict. The course also reviews R&DE's core values and Stanford's commitment to inclusion and diversity and related policies, all of which sets performance standards for workplace diversity and inclusion practices.