What is the importance of focusing on diversity and inclusive excellence?
Gill: Inclusive excellence is critical to achieving institutional excellence and fulfilling the University’s vision. It creates an environment that recognizes and appreciates the talents, skills and perspectives of every individual and uses those skills to reach educational and organizational objectives. Q: Why is the University focusing on Inclusive Excellence now? Gill: The University has had a long commitment to diversity and inclusion even before the terms were first used. Our highly successful Trio Programs provide college opportunities to first-generation underrepresented students. The Women’s Studies Program, The IDEAs Program that increases minority students in engineering, The Office of Accessibility, The Office of Multicultural Development, The International Studies Program, and The McNair Program to attract minority graduate students, have all been in place for many years. However, we now have a point person in place in institutional leadership who will raise the visibility
