1. Southern Connecticut State University
  2. From the President, re: DEI Initiatives

From the President, re: DEI Initiatives

June 21, 2023

Dear Southern Community:

As we continue to see the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and offices throughout the country, it is more critical than ever that Southern continue to extend educational opportunities for all, and achieve equitable outcomes based on the many ways in which our students identify.

Since my arrival on campus, I have been thrilled to witness this community’s deep commitment to the university’s mission as a social justice and anti-racist institution. This is evident in the investments we have made in recent initiatives such as: 

  • Becoming a Partner College of TheDream.US, the nation's largest college access and success program for undocumented immigrant students.
  • Boosting diversity in the state’s nursing workforce through two initiatives providing nurse education and career growth opportunities for certified nursing aides and high school students.
  • Creating the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, headed by DEI VP Diane Ariza, and hiring of additional staff.
  • Being selected by the Center for First-Generation Student Success for the national First Scholars Network for the coming academic year.
  • Creating the Southern Faculty Fellows in Residence program, a new initiative to recruit a broadly diverse pool of newly credentialed faculty.
  • Increasing both the numbers and diversity of science and math teachers in high-need school districts through the OwlsTeach program.
  • Restructuring Giving Day into Day of Caring and as a result drawing a record number of donors and contributions to support the campus food pantry and students with basic needs.

As we move forward, the university will need to become more strategic and intentional with its DEI initiatives, given our increasingly diverse student demographic and the changing needs of our campus population. 

With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that as of July 1, the Multicultural Center, SAGE Center, and Interfaith Center will reside within the DEI Division. The move is a natural one, given that each of these three centers has an affinity with DEI and as such will help integrate the division’s important work throughout the institution.

We have already seen the work the division has engaged in to enhance the institutional climate through DEI education, restorative practices, faculty and staff recruitment and retention, institutional compliance, community engagement, and ongoing consultation with diverse university partners. As we unveil our new University Strategic Plan this fall, it is essential that we expand these initiatives, particularly in the light of new enrollment and budget challenges.

I thank you for all that you do to advance our social justice and anti-racism mission as we build a community of equity, understanding, and belonging for all the members of our extended Southern family.

Cordially,

Dwayne Smith, Ph.D.
Interim President