Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

PRIORITIZING INTENTIONAL INCLUSION

As Trinity seeks to take positive steps toward its aspirational value of intentional inclusion, we must be open to the realities of our own campus climate. We commit to implementing practices in pursuit of an inclusive campus where all students, faculty, and staff feel welcomed and valued. As a first step in this pursuit, the University partnered with the Diversity and Inclusion Office and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to gauge the current campus climate related to diversity and inclusion for Trinity students, faculty, and staff.

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF DIVERSITY AND EQUITY CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY Survey distributed in Spring 2019

32.4 % response rate out of almost 3,500 community members

49.9% of faculty | 26.8% of students 45.7% of staff/administration

Of the respondents:

78 %

were overall satisfied with campus climate.

69 %

felt a sense of belonging or community on campus.

44 %

66 %

felt that all community members experienced a sense of belonging or community on campus.

perceived tension on campus related to differences between individuals and groups of people.

Compared to other small institutions, Trinity has:

slightly higher levels

of satisfaction with the campus climate for diversity and equity

slightly higher rates of disparaging remarks

South Asian Lesbian African-American/Black

are the top 3 groups* of individuals who have experienced discrimination and/or harassment on campus *in all of these groups, females especially reported discrimination and/or harassment

Most common sources of disparaging or insensitive remarks:

Student to Student Faculty to Faculty

Political affiliation

is the most-heard topic of insensitive or disparaging remarks on campus

Being Ignored

is the #1 form of harassment

or discrimination

on campus. Followed by being the subject of insensitive remarks, and being stared at

1) on-campus housing 2) classrooms 3) dining halls, recreational spaces, or athletic facilities

top locations students experienced discrimination or harassment

To view the survey results in full, visit gotu.us/IntentionalInclusion.

BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE

As the University recognizes its 151-year history and grapples with the realities of our current climate, we are more aware than ever that fundamental, lasting change starts from within—as individuals and as a community committed to learning, action, and growth. We must be both transparent and accountable in the ways in which we stumble and we succeed.

To address the challenges recognized in the climate survey, Trinity has begun initiatives for 2020-21. Here is what is ahead.

A Diversity and Inclusion Task Force will prepare recommendations to create and maintain an inclusive campus culture, based partly on feedback from faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Trinity will secure annual, ongoing diversity and inclusion professional development for campus community members by the end of 2020. Trinity will enhance the diversity and inclusion orientation provided to new students. Trinity will hire a new director for Student Diversity and Inclusion, a position reconfigured to prioritize student needs.

Visit Trinity’s dedicated Diversity and Inclusion website for updates at gotu.us/IntentionalInclusion.

In November, Trinity joined the

nationwide celebration for firstgeneration college students. The annual celebration commemorates the role these students play in cultivating a student body with diverse thoughts and experiences.

12 % OF TRINITY STUDENTS ARE FIRST-GENERATION Fostering Dialogue on Campus

In June 2019, Trinity was one of 25 colleges and universities among 700 member organizations of The Council of Independent Colleges selected to participate in the Diversity, Civility, and the Liberal Arts Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. Sessions at the Institute explored demographic trends reshaping the 21st-century campus and addressed the implications of these changes. Upon their return, Trinity faculty and administration applied teachings from the Institute to foster conversations on campus about inclusion through initiatives such as a symposium, workshops, and a resource guide.

Strengthening Workplace Culture

Trinity released results from its first-ever Gallup Employee Engagement Survey in 2019in an ongoing effort to foster high engagement among employees. Results showed that overall, faculty and staff are incredibly proud to work at Trinity, and they find meaning and purpose in their work. However, the University identified two specific areas in which it needs to show improvement: finding new and better ways to reward and recognize hard work and dedication, and identifying opportunities for growth.