TCNJ

4 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION An inclusive community is central to the educational experience TCNJ offers. People with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities promote learning and engagement. This year, the college strengthened its commitment to promoting diversity on several fronts. I AM TCNJ Forum On November 28, President Foster hosted "I AM TCNJ," a forum in Kendall Hall at which she was joined by student, staff, and faculty representatives to discuss ways to advance civility and community respect at the college. The event followed bias incidents on campus that were contrary to institutional values. More than 750 members of the community participated in the forum. Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In January, President Foster appointed an interim vice president of institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion and brought together the offices of the chief diversity officer, director of student diversity and inclusion, and staff from disability support services to form a cohesive unit focused on promoting all aspects of diversity and inclusion across the campus community. A national search for a permanent vice president for equity and inclusion is underway with assistance from search firm WittKieffer. Bias Response Team A key initiative of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was developing a Bias Response Team to ensure that appropriate college resources and expertise are made available to anyone who feels they have been harmed by bias. This team facilitates TCNJ's efforts to track bias incidents, identify trends, collect aggregate data, plan campus educational responses to benefit the community, and connect individuals affected by bias incidents with supportive resources. Diversity Summit The college's second annual Diversity Summit brought together over 100 members of the campus community for a day of programming around the theme of "Global Inclusive Excellence: Forward-thinking and Innovation." Renowned diversity and inclusion strategist Sonia Aranza delivered a keynote address, sharing her personal experiences with the theme and a call for empathy, followed by breakout sessions on topics like hunger and homelessness on college campuses, navigating sexual harassment, ableism in the classroom, racial profiling in contemporary society, and inclusive teaching strategies. MLK Day To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, faculty and staff gathered in Brower Student Center to view the movie The Hate U Give, which is based on the bestselling book by Angie Thomas. After the screening, the group discussed the film's message and how we can create a more inclusive community at TCNJ.

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