Anti-Racism Initiative
Brooklyn College's Commitment
Coming to terms with racial inequalities and taking action on historical injustices is not only part of our mission, but is a strategic priority at Brooklyn College and one in which success depends on sustained engagement and contributions from every person in our community. The Anti-Racism Initiative at Brooklyn College encompasses the collective work that happens every day to ensure that we are living up to our mission. This work has occurred and continues to occur in many forms and by several groups across the campus. Here, we will showcase the progress toward implementing that agenda while also following some of the many projects and other ways that we continue to work together to form a more inclusive institution.
- President Anderson's Anti-Racist Agenda
- Past messages and statements from President Anderson about the college's Anti-Racism Initiative
Statements and Messages
- An Update on Racial Justice Initiatives at Brooklyn College (Aug. 30, 2021)
- Supporting Our Faculty (April 23, 2021)
- Supporting Our Students (Feb. 24, 2021)
- Supporting Our Staff (Feb. 8, 2021)
- An Update From the Implementation Team for Racial Justice (Nov. 17, 2020)
- Recommendations for Office of Campus and Community Safety Services (Nov. 2, 2020)
- Action Plan for Faculty at Brooklyn College (Oct. 13, 2020)
- Action Plan for Students at Brooklyn College (Oct. 5, 2020)
- Action Plan for Staff at Brooklyn College (Sept. 29, 2020)
- Announcing the Implementation Team for Racial Justice (Sept. 15, 2020)
- Upcoming Listening Sessions on our Anti-Racist Agenda (Sept. 9, 2020)
Implementation Team for Racial Justice
Chief Diversity Officer Anthony Brown along with Ron Jackson, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Faculty Member James Lynch have been appointed to lead a special Implementation Team for Racial Justice on the campus. The team is developing a comprehensive plan on all issues and action items advanced to the administration. The Team will ensure coordination among many initiatives underway, so that we can maximize the impact of our campus-wide effort.
Action Plan in Response to Staff Concerns
At Listening Sessions during the week of September 16, staff members expressed concerns about fairness in hiring and promotion at the College as well as a desire for professional development/career advancement opportunities and better advertising of new job postings. Finally, they want a voice in the shared governance structures of the College. In response, the College is implementing the following action plan.
Event Series
Scholarly lectures, town halls and other events related to the anti-racist agenda.
Campus Resources And Contacts
Brooklyn College has many resources available to support a safe campus environment, free of discrimination.
Listening Sessions
During September 2020, the Implementation Team led six separate Listening Sessions via Zoom. Collectively, more than 100 students, faculty, and staff attended these sessions to share their experiences, questions, and concerns with the team. As a result, the team has rolled out action plans in response to staff, student, and faculty concerns shared at the sessions and shared with the team via our Community Feedback form. They will be sharing progress on these plans as well as additional plans in the coming months.
Action Plan In Response to Student Concerns
At the listening sessions and via our Community Feedback Form, students expressed concerns about the lack of diversity on the faculty as well as within the curriculum. They want faculty to undergo training on how to handle discussions about race and racism in the classroom. Students want access to more mental health support from a diverse range of professionals. They requested additional forums to share about these issues going forward. Finally, they want each School at the College to enhance student input on the curriculum and faculty. In response, the College is implementing the following action plan.
Action Items in Response to Faculty Concerns
The Implementation Team recognized the synergies between the interests expressed at the student and faculty sessions on the diversification of both the faculty and curriculum. In response, the team recommended a series of action items.
Resources for Faculty
The Roberta S. Matthews Center for Teaching and Learning has developed a list of resources for inclusive and anti-racist pedagogy.
