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Main Image for 2020–21 Action Agenda

2020–21 Action Agenda

 
Gospel Explosion concert at Bard College.
Photo by Eliza Watson ’21
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Menu
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In This Section

  • Latest Updates
  • Incident Reporting
  • DEI Task Force
  • 2020–21 Progress Report
  • 2019–20 Progress Report

Latest Updates

  • Diversity@Bard Newsletter, February 11, 2021
  • A New Year Message from President Botstein, January 14, 2021
  • Diversity@Bard Newsletter, December 4, 2020
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates, December 4, 2020
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates, November 23, 2020
  • Academic Life Update from the Dean of the College, November 19, 2020

Reporting

  • We encourage members of the Bard community to make the College aware of any instances of discrimination or harassment.

    Reports can be made to the College using the Bard College Incident Reporting Form or the Title IX Reporting Form, or by calling the dean of inclusive excellence at 845-758-7367. Any emergency should be reported to Campus Safety and Security at 845-758-7777.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force

President Botstein has appointed a standing task force of Bard administrators to work with the Council for Inclusive Excellence (CIE). This group will keep the community informed on a regular basis on the steps being taken.
 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force

Kahan Sablo
Dean of Inclusive Excellence
ksablo@bard.edu

Erin Cannan (Co-chair, CIE)
Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Civic Engagement
cannan@bard.edu

Myra Armstead (Co-Chair, CIE)
Lyford Paterson Edwards and Helen Gray Edwards Professor of Historical Studies
Vice President for Academic Inclusive Excellence
armstead@bard.edu
 
Jonathan Becker
Executive Vice President; Director, Center for Civic Engagement
jbecker@bard.edu

Deidre d’Albertis
Dean of the College
dalberti@bard.edu 

Malia Du Mont
Chief of Staff to the President; Vice President for Strategy and Policy
mdumont@bard.edu

John Gomez
Director of Safety and Security
jgomez@bard.edu

Coleen Murphy Alexander
Vice President for Administration
murphy@bard.edu

Bethany Nohlgren
Dean of Students
nohlgren@bard.edu
 

2020–21 Progress Report

Last updated December 4, 2020

Listening to Student Voices

We must be honest in admitting that some mistakes have been made by well-intentioned people. Truthfully, more mistakes will be made as we attempt to navigate the growing pains of antiracism work. Therefore, student voices must be centered in all discussions—particularly the voices of Black, Brown, and other historically marginalized communities. Dr. Kahan Sablo, the Dean of Inclusive Excellence, has committed to working collaboratively across the campus in support of the accountability that students have demanded—even in matters where he has no direct authority. 

Dr. Sablo has also invited the DEI affinity club leaders to meet with him monthly to discuss how he best can support their organizational leadership agendas. In addition to institutional outreach initiatives and our departmental initiatives, staff in the DEI Office will offer assistance with programming logistics, funding, advertisement, and administrative support. This leadership collective can also be a venue to share community concerns with a goal of facilitating effective outcomes before situations escalate and harm is done.

Employee and Student Diversity

The Dean of the College has recently announced the hiring of several new faculty of color. Although this is exciting news, progress is still needed to attract and retain diverse employees to the campus. The Dean of Inclusive Excellence will be working with colleagues in Human Resources, the Career Development Office, faculty/staff leaders, and the Dean of the College to reimagine hiring practices to bring an increased number of diverse applicants to the institution. Simultaneously, the Vice Presidents and Deans of the College are working to address the retention concerns evidenced in a survey administered to the Professionals of Color Affinity Group. The administration of the College is committed to partnering across the campus in support of a more welcoming environment for all students and employees.

The Council for Inclusive Excellence has recently commissioned an Admission Working Group to develop and refine strategies for enhancing the diversity of the student body. Simultaneously, we are working with colleagues in the Registrar’s Office and Institutional Research to develop laser-sharp accuracy in the assessment of institutional persistence and graduation for various student cohorts (i.e. ethnicity, opportunity scholarships, Pell recipients, etc.). Effective student recruitment and retention strategies can only be sustained through data-driven decisions. 

Bard College is a highly selective institution with an academically rigorous and unique curriculum (i.e. Moderation, Senior Project, Citizen Science, Language and Thinking, etc.). However, in order for students to be successful in their post-Bardian career aspirations, increased engagement opportunities with diverse employees and peers remain essential. 

Embracing Curriculum Diversity

Students have spoken up loud and clear in their demands for a racially inclusive curriculum. The Dean of Inclusive Excellence is supporting DEI conversations between students and the leadership of various academic programs. Although many decolonization of the curriculum requests were student-inspired, many significant curriculum-related DEI initiatives were already underway. We commit to being more intentional about communicating these ongoing efforts to students.

This fall, the Dean of the College convened a faculty forum where every academic program was asked to communicate current and future DEI plans. Departments were also asked to refine or create DEI division and program statements to guide their work. Further strengthening these efforts was the naming of Dr. Michael Sadowski to the position of Director of Inclusive Pedagogy and Curriculum. This new appointment has been pivotal in supporting the many faculty-led DEI-related academic initiatives currently in progress.

Collaborative Partnerships

Collectively, great things can and will happen if we are willing to challenge existing ways of thinking, working, and learning with a commitment to accountability. 

Although there are many campus DEI entities, the Office of the Dean of Inclusive Excellence is working most intimately with several strategic campus partners in support of the following outcomes: 

The President's Commission on Racial Justice and Equity

The President's Commission on Racial Justice and Equity has been working tirelessly to gather reliable data to launch recommendations for a stronger, more inclusive Bard. However, ownership and implementation of these recommendations rests in the hands of every member of the Bard community. It cannot be overstated that the success of campus DEI work does not rest with a commission—it rests with all our students, staff, and faculty! Please make use of this final opportunity to provide written testimony for the Commission's review. 

Excellence in Athletics Coalition

Excellence in Athletics – A Coalition to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Bard College Athletics resumed meeting this fall in response to equity-based concerns expressed by student athletes and other members of the campus community. This coalition was charged with reviewing athletic policies, disciplinary processes, facilities, and the overall athletic climate. Concerns among the athlete community escalated, resulting in most student athletes choosing to refrain from all athletic-related activities until demands submitted by the Coalition of Student Athletes (COSA) were honored. As part of the institutional response, the services of 122 Consulting have been contracted to assist with this work. This organization has been instrumental in opening lines of communication.

A preliminary timeline has been established. Progress to date on student demands includes, but is not limited to, mandatory antiracism training for athletic staff with Dax Devlon Ross (and a commitment to ongoing antiracism training), a Town Hall meeting between students and the athletic staff, immediate and long term revisions to the current mandatory Title IX training, athletic staff participation in the NCAA DIII OneTeam LGBTQ Training, the facilitated reading of “How to Be Antiracist,” and the anticipated availability of campus mediation services through the Mediation Center of Dutchess County. 

Our talented consultants are working towards the facilitation of a restorative healing circle so that all voices can be heard. Furthermore, Dean Sablo will pursue advanced restorative justice facilitation training to better support the ongoing needs of the campus. The entire Bard community will benefit from the collective recommendations of the Athletic Coalition, the athletic staff, COSA and other student athletes, and 122 Consulting. 

Council for Inclusive Excellence

The Council for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) continues to advance ongoing DEI opportunities through its 14 working groups. For example, the Bard Student Emergency Fund (BSEF) was recently recognized by the CIE and continues to provide emergency funds to students with unforeseen financial needs. As you can see from the BSEF’s inaugural report, your tax deductible contribution directly supports students experiencing an immediate financial crisis. Everyone is encouraged to financially support the BSEF. In addition, contributions can be made via payroll deductions. 

THE SCALE PROJECT
BSEF efforts are complimented by The Scale Project’s ongoing efforts to assist students with college expenses. This includes the cost of supplies for academic programs that have additional curriculum-specific expenses. Their publication, “Being Not-Rich at Bard College,” is a great resource created solely by student leaders.

GILSON PLACE STEERING COMMITTEE
Student leadership has also been superbly evidenced by the leadership team of the Gilson Place Steering Committee. They have been working diligently to advance the mission of this student-led initiative in spite of restricted access to the facility because of COVID social-distancing requirements. 

OUT@BARD AND STAFF MENTORING GROUP
In its first four months of existence, Out@Bard led the campus acknowledgement of National Coming Out Day, supported the updating of the Trans Resource Guide, and gathered a host of valuable resources for individuals navigating the “coming out” process. The group also hosted a campus pronouns panel and is currently working on Safe Space training to educate the campus on fully embracing its LGBTQIA+ members. Also regarding professional development, the Staff Mentoring Working Group continues to host monthly “Water Cooler'' meetings.

SECURITY WORKING GROUP
The Security Working Group has been focused on increasing campus lighting and emergency call box access while the College continues to work through the very complex legal processes associated with Bard College taking ownership of Annandale Road.

ANTI-RACIST READING GROUP
The Anti-Racist Reading Group is systematically reviewing campus policies from the lens of the most recently read texts, “How to Be an Antiracist” and ”White Fragility.” The goal is to review and make recommendations to decolonize any campus policy that unintentionally presents an equity concern. 

TITLE IX
The Title IX Coordinator and Dean of Inclusive Excellence have been working very closely to implement a campus ethnic and racial harassment policy for allegations of Title VI and Title VII harassment. Concerns have been expressed about the need for a comprehensive policy, advocacy, and clear reporting options—particularly when intradepartmental procedures have not proven effective. While this policy is being developed, the Title IX Coordinator and Dean of Inclusive Excellence will continue to work collaboratively in response to any allegations of harassment. 

2019–20 Progress Report

New Dean of Inclusive Excellence

In January 2020, the College successfully concluded its fall 2019 search to fill the six-month vacancy in this post by hiring Dr. Kahan Sablo. Dr. Sablo brings to the position over 20 years of experience in higher education administration, most recently at George Mason University where he was assistant vice president for university life. He has headed diversity work at two public universities in New York State, Canton and Fredonia, and at another state institution, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he was senior administrator of student life. His background in equity and inclusion work in postsecondary institutions is extensive and varied. Dr. Sablo has been charged with creating a strategic plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Bard, and is heading the recently named President's Commission on Racial Equity and Justice, which will report on its findings by January 2021.

Lighting


Annandale Corridor Pathlight Improvement

In early Spring 2020, Bard completed improvements to the sidewalk lighting along the Annandale Road corridor, from Woods Road to Cruger Island Road.

Seventeen new path light poles were added along the sidewalk, complementing the existing 12 poles, which were simultaneously upgraded for a total of 29 path lights. This provided a contiguous corridor with a light source every 50 to 60 feet.

Highlights of the new design include:

  • A new, taller, 12-foot pole was selected, with an arm and fixture that overhangs the sidewalk—this was done in order to improve the light footprint and connectivity between poles, and also to reduce glare for pedestrians and nearby vehicle traffic. In contrast, the existing poles were shorter, with no arm, and with a decorative, but antiquated, “globe” fixture that indirectly sent light in 360 degrees.
  • A new “Dark Skies”–compliant fixture was selected in order to direct light downward (where needed), while reducing outward glare and eliminating light “trespass” and “waste” upward into the tree canopy and beyond.
  • A new 18-watt LED bulb was selected to improve the quantity and quality of light, while also achieving energy savings.
  • New poles were strategically placed to provide more light at critical locations, such as crosswalks, driveways, and emergency telephones.
Project Summary, August 5, 2020

Security Personnel

Bard Security added new staff over the fall and winter of 2019–20: one new security guard and two new supervisors.

Cameras, Alerts, and Emergency Phones

Bard College added three new cameras on Annandale Road in 2019–20, two at the Stevenson Athletic Center and three near the athletic fields. The College updated its software and increased storage capacity to capture 30 days of footage.

Bard Security added additional “blue lights” to the existing 80 emergency phones. A map of the phones can be viewed on the Security website.

The Regroup system remains in place and capable of sending emergency texts to the community. Bard Security is currently working with the company Involvio for a Bard–specific safety app, which should be completed in fall 2020.

Reporting

An online reporting link enables students to report incidents directly and anonymously to Bard Security. 

On-Call Staff

Professional on-call staff including on-call administrators, counselors, deans, and telehealth and medical first aid can be reached by calling Security 24 hours a day at 845-758-7777. Bard's peer counseling service, BRAVE, provides anonymous peer-to-peer crisis support.

Training

Several Bard administrative offices, including Admission, the Bursar’s Office, Financial Aid, and the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs, as well as the Vice President/Deans Group have already undergone diversity and inclusion training over the course of the academic year. All major offices of the College will undergo such training by the end of the academic year. Bard College has required diversity training for all incoming students as of summer 2019.

Antidiscrimination Policy

The College’s current Title VI and Title VII policy (addressing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin) are under review in order to ensure that the College’s reporting and response procedures to issues related to discrimination are what they need to be. The revised policies will be published during the fall 2020 semester.

Faculty Initiatives

The College affirms and pledges to extend its ongoing efforts through the Office of the Dean of the College, the Center for Faculty and Curricular Development, and faculty governance to recruit and retain faculty members from underrepresented groups. The Director of Inclusive Pedagogy will work with the Dean, CFCD, and with individual programs and faculty to facilitate equitable classroom instructional practices. The Curriculum Committee, Faculty Diversity Committee, and Center for Faculty and Curricular Development, as well as directors of the First-Year Seminar, Language and Thinking, and Citizen Science, will collaborate with the Office of Student Affairs to foster dialogue around difficult conversations and develop tools for instructors to respond more effectively to “hot moments” in the classroom. The Curriculum Committee will continue to work with all four divisions to review and approve courses that fulfill the College’s Difference and Justice distribution requirement. A meeting of the student government’s Educational Policies Committee with the Faculty Senate is scheduled for October 22, and the EPC will continue to be a point of interface between students and faculty. A Faculty Forum on equity in the classroom was convened in anticipation of the start of the 2020–21 academic year.

Other Initiatives

Several other initiatives are moving forward, including continued efforts to offer students “Know Your Rights” seminars, training in community engagement and dialogue, and expanded opportunities to meet with Bard Security and local law enforcement authorities to discuss community concerns. Representatives from the College have met numerous times with the Human Rights Commission and have regular check-ins with local officials as part of a regional effort.

Last year, more than 60 students, faculty, and staff members participated in a reading group centered on Ibram X. Kendi’s book How to Be an Antiracist. Because of the large number of participants, the group was divided into the three sections for the fall semester. During the spring semester, participants began shifting the focus of the group from discussing the key ideas in the text to their implementation at Bard. Ongoing conversations among this working group of the Council for Inclusive Excellence involve examining four areas of life at Bard through Kendi’s antiracist lens: student life and identities; protocols associated with student health; study abroad; and curriculum.

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