EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT PRATT

Last year, a Diversity Committee was created and charged by President Thomas F. Schutte with looking at increasing the number of faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented populations; fostering an environment that welcomes them; and encouraging all members of the community to respect various viewpoints, as well as educating our community on the value of diversity to the Institute as an organization. The committee consists of five subcommittees: campus climate, hiring and retention, admissions, curriculum, and educational outreach and training. 

"Pratt is following many other organizations in moving beyond the notion of equal opportunity as a legal requirement to embracing diversity as a value in itself and an asset for the organization,” said Director of Human Resources Tom Greene, who is currently serving as chair of the Diversity Committee.  “We want to be more diverse and inclusive, not only because it is the right thing to do but because it strengthens the Institute and benefits everyone. In a higher education environment, it is necessary for preparation of students for the real world.”

At a Town Hall meeting convened by the Diversity Committee in late November to discuss concerns about the recent report on the committee’s findings, concerns were raised about having more opportunities for the Pratt community to interact with the adjacent Clinton Hill community, the need for a student multicultural clubs, and the need for a dedicated staff member committed to promoting diversity on campus. These are all things the Institute will consider, some of which can be accomplished relatively quickly and others, such as the creation of a diversity officer position, are more long-term and require significant funding.

The committee will continue to host monthly meetings on campus and the Institute's Office of Institutional Research is in the process of conducting an anonymous survey of faculty and staff to gather information on experiences and impressions on diversity and inclusion at Pratt that will help the committee as they address these issues.

Text: Bay Brown