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President's Commission

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The President's Commission on Racial Equity and Social Justice

About Us

  • What We Do
    We are 31 faculty, staff, and students reviewing and collecting data to make recommendations for a stronger, more inclusive Bard. The formal charge of the Commission is as follows: “Conduct an audit of Bard’s past, report on the present state of affairs, recommend a plan of action for the future.”

    As a recommending body, this Commission identifies ways to build upon previous successful DEI work, recommending structural changes for enhanced success. The Commission does not investigate specific incidents. However, all information shared can be useful in supporting final recommendations to enhance campus climate. Individuals who wish to formally report an incident should complete the Bard Incident Reporting Form.

    What We Do

    We are 31 faculty, staff, and students reviewing and collecting data to make recommendations for a stronger, more inclusive Bard. The formal charge of the Commission is as follows: “Conduct an audit of Bard’s past, report on the present state of affairs, recommend a plan of action for the future.”

    As a recommending body, this Commission identifies ways to build upon previous successful DEI work, recommending structural changes for enhanced success. The Commission does not investigate specific incidents. However, all information shared can be useful in supporting final recommendations to enhance campus climate. Individuals who wish to formally report an incident should complete the Bard Incident Reporting Form.

    Commission Membership

    Myra Armstead, VICE CHAIR, Vice President of Academic Inclusive Excellence and Lyford Paterson
    Edwards and Helen Gray Edwards Professor of Historical Studies
    Dinaw Mengestu, VICE CHAIR, Professor of Written Arts and Director, Written Arts Program
    Bree Bogle, Student Leader
    Krista Caballero, Associate Director of the Center for Experimental Humanities
    Nicole Caso, Associate Professor of Spanish and Chair, Division of Languages and Literature
    Erin Cannan, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Civic Engagement
    Mirelva Colon, Counselor
    Deirdre d’Albertis, Dean of the College and Professor of English
    Omar Encarnacion, Professor of Political Studies
    Donna Ford ‘80, Visiting Associate Professor of Literature and American Studies
    John Gomez, Director of Security
    Alexander Hall ‘17, Housing Associate, Bard Prison Initiative
    Cammie Jones, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement
    Gabriel Mendes, Director of Public Health Programs, Bard Prison Initiative
    Stefan M. Méndez-Diez, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
    A. Sayeeda Moreno, Assistant Professor of Film and Electronic Arts
    Miles Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and Latin American and Iberian Studies
    Michael Sadowski, Executive Director of Bard Early College Hudson and Associate Professor, Bard MAT
    Program
    Kimberly Sargeant ‘14, Assistant Director of Access and Equity Programs
    Whitney Slaten, Assistant Professor of Music
    Jovanny Suriel, Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement and Director of Career Development
    Erika van der Velden ‘04, Director of Disability Resources
    Dumaine Williams ‘03, Vice President and Dean of the Bard Early Colleges
    Manny Williams, Student Leader
    Shuo Zhang, Assistant Professor of Physics

    Administrative Support has been graciously provided by Sherry Gildersleeve, Assisstant to the Dean of the College
     

Progress Report

Last updated January 25, 2021

HEDS Diversity and Equity Survey

During the fall 2020 semester the campus-wide HEDS Survey was administered with the following response rates:

  • Undergraduate Students: 37% (619 responses)
  • Graduate Students: 35% (97 responses)
  • Faculty: 72% (223 responses)
  • Staff: 43% (252 responses)
  • Administrators: 93% (75 responses)
The results of this survey will support recommendations to enhance the campus climate and measure the success of future DEI initiatives.
 

A History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts at Bard

The President's Commission authored a comprehensive historical narrative of Bard's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts during the following eras:

  • The Age of Integration, Affirmative Action, and Multiculturalism (Before 2000)
  • The Diversity Era (2000–2015)
  • Confronting Systemic Racism (2016–2019)

Current Action Items

  • Organizing and analyzing HEDS Data
  • Administering an Alumnx Survey
  • Soliciting narratives from previous employees
  • Reviewing current data from Simon's Rock, the Bard Prison Initiative, and Bard High School Early Colleges

Spring Agenda

  • Identify common themes from all data collected
  • Envision goals for a more inclusive Bard College
  • Draft recommendations to achieve these goals
  • Submit the final report and present findings to President Leon Botstein

Additional Information

  • Don't miss the [email protected] Newsletter for updates on DEI activities on campus
  • Share your DEI thoughts and experiences with the Commission. Submit Testimony to the Commission

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources

  • Bias Incident Report
  • Office of Title IX and Nondiscrimination
  • Accessibility at Bard
  • Disability Support Services
  • Excellence in Athletics Coalition
  • Student Life + Advising
  • Dean of the College
  • Faculty + Curricular Development
  • Center for Civic Engagement
  • Student Government
  • DACA and Undocumented Students
  • DEI Programs + Scholarships
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