New leadership position created for diversity and inclusion at USU

Recently, Utah State University President, Noelle E. Cockett, approved of a new vice president position to join starting in 2022. 

The new position, along with two additional positions for support, was created as a leadership spot to represent diversity and inclusion. 

The purpose for this action is to help all USU students to feel represented in an all inclusive environment. 

According to a Utah State Today article, Pres. Cockett said, “Over the years, there has been an effort to recruit student, staff and faculty populations that mirror the state’s growing diversity. But it is not enough to say we want diversity on our campuses. We must create an inclusive environment that reflects and supports that intention.”

Some of the main responsibilities that this vice president will have includes guiding USU’s outreach and education, as well as ensuring all people are given opportunities to feel a sense of belonging. 

And although this announcement is recent, the subject of diversity and inclusion is nothing new for Pres. Cockett. 

Since she became president in 2017, Cockett has made it clear that all kinds of diversity are a huge priority for USU. 

And according to Amanda DeRito, the Associate Vice President for Communication at the university, USU’s future body is becoming increasingly diverse, which makes this new position even more important. 

DeRito stated that by 2065, Utah’s college-age population is projected to be 40% hispanic.

This is part of the reason why within the past four years, Cockett has developed and expanded the Inclusion Excellence Symposium, expanded funds and space for the USU Inclusion Center, led efforts to create the Latinx Cultural Center, and facilitated an annual Community Diversity Dinner.

Although, there is already a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force that Cockett created in the Spring of 2019, that includes faculty and staff from USU. 

The task force’s main duty is to develop and implement yearly strategic plans for inclusion of students and conducting an assessment to gather data about how the university is doing with diversity and what needs to be improved. 

The difference between the task force and this new position, is that whoever becomes the vice president for this role, will have their full focus and attention on inclusion rather than having other staff members with other priorities work on plans and data. 

The Utah State Today article also mentioned that this announcement comes after the release of USU’s 2019 diversity and inclusion survey results. The survey found that LGBTQIA+ students, international students, students of color and students with a disability, have felt less safe and a lower sense of belonging at USU. 

The university will begin searching for individuals to fill these roles starting in October.

Maddie Shreve, a sophomore at USU, said that she is pleased the university is finally instituting a leadership spot for diversity. 

“Diversity is all around us whether it is spotlighted or not, however, diversity leaders do shine that light,” she said, “Diversity leaders are important because they can be an advocate for the community as well as bring awareness.” 

However, Shreve also stated that she would love to see other actions being taken, such as planning activities and events, that incorporate other cultures and traditions so that students can also have more knowledge of the diversity that inevitably surrounds them.

DeRito said that one way for more diversity to be recognized is by students taking actions themselves. 

“Students can start by being curious,” she said, “They can seek opportunities to learn more about other cultures and the life experiences of those who are different than themselves, and then thinking about their own misconceptions and assumptions they make about others and how it might impact those in underrepresented groups.”

Jacee.caldwell@usu.edu

@JaceeCaldwell