Dartmouth president begins immediate implementation of diversity initiatives proposed by college committee

Posted 07/17/01

Dartmouth College President James Wright announced today that the College will immediately implement several major initiatives recommended in a recent report by the College's Committee on Institutional Diversity and Equity. Included among the initiatives are creation of a senior level administrative position to oversee implementation of diversity initiatives, creation of a Council on Diversity, and a re-evaluation of the College's mission statement.

"One of the College's top priorities is to support and enhance the diversity of the Dartmouth community," Wright said in a letter announcing the initiatives to students, faculty and staff. "Dartmouth must sustain a culture of acceptance and inclusion for students, faculty and staff from all walks of life. Doing so strengthens the educational experience we provide," he added.

Wright announced today that Ozzie Harris, currently Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, will assume the senior administrative position of Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Diversity and Equity. In this capacity, Harris will chair the new Council on Diversity, which will include broad representation by senior college officers, faculty and students. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action will now be known as the Office for Institutional Diversity and Equity.

Wright also directed the Dean of the Faculty to review hiring and retention of faculty of color and to encourage faculty discussion on ways diversity can be more fully integrated into the curriculum. The Special Assistant to the President and the Associate Vice President for Human Resources will review hiring and retention of staff of color; the Dean of the College, along with the Dean of the Tucker Foundation and others will consider programs to enhance diversity and cross-cultural interaction in residence halls; the Dean of the College will appoint an Associate Dean for Student Life whose focus will be on issues of diversity; and the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid will review Dartmouth's financial aid policies to ensure that all students are able to participate fully in all areas of the College. In addition, Wright said he will work with the Board of Trustees to begin an immediate review of the College's mission statement "to assure that it fully reflects our (diversity) goals."

The Committee on Institutional Diversity and Equity, previously known as the World Cultures Initiative Committee, was established in April 2000. Chaired by Dean of the College James Larimore and Associate Professor of English Melissa Zeiger, the Committee was charged with examining the educational environment on campus and to suggest actions to make Dartmouth a more inclusive, pluralistic and interactive learning community. Its report, and the implementations of its recommendations, are the most recent actions spurred by the Student Life Initiative, announced in February 1999 by Wright and the Board of Trustees.

"One of President Wright's top priorities is enhancing and fostering diversity at Dartmouth," said Harris, whose new position and responsibilities go into effect immediately. "His decisive action upon receiving this report sends a strong signal to the community that Dartmouth is committed on a fundamental level to achieving the goals set out in this report and the excellent reports of previous years. I am excited to be a part of this important initiative and look forward to working with students, faculty and staff to realize our full potential in creating an environment where diversity in all of its forms will thrive," said Harris.

Harris is a 1981 graduate of Dartmouth and has been a member of the College administration since 1992. He received his J.D. degree from Vermont Law School in 1991 and, before coming to Dartmouth, worked as a law clerk for the Boston Human Rights Commission and the New Hampshire Public Defender's Office.

Two years after Dartmouth College announced its Student Life Initiative (SLI), a broad program to enhance student social and residential life, plans are moving forward on a range of fronts, from programming to facilities to recreational opportunities. The SLI aims to expand residential and social options for students and to better integrate learning inside and outside the classroom. Some of the projects undertaken by the College include major new facilities such as two new residence halls, a dining and social hub on the north side of the campus, new and enhanced student social options, and creation of student advisor positions.

Click here for the full text of the Committee on Institutional Diversity and Equity's report, as well as other documents related to the SLI.