Emphasize Inclusive Excellence

We must commit to inclusive excellence — an active process ensuring that excellence is reflective of diversity in all forms. As systematic efforts expand to recruit and retain historically underrepresented students, faculty, and staff, it is imperative that this work be done in close concert with efforts to further improve the quality of research, creative activities, teaching, and engagement. An integrated approach will greatly improve work toward minimizing barriers and enhancing and creating new programs in support of equity, diversity, and inclusion. This intentional integration will equip us to better solve the challenges that face Nebraska and the world, while preparing students for a continually evolving and global workforce. An environment that emphasizes inclusive excellence and diversity is a place that embraces the importance of every person and knows that every interaction matters.

Strategies:

1. Create systematic procedures to evaluate and improve campus climate focused on inclusion, diverse experiences, and sense of belonging
2. Engage in practices that value every person and every interaction in ways that promote equity, dignity, and respect for individuals from a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
3. Enhance participation in critical dialogue around issues of equity and inclusion
4. Embed inclusive excellence into existing and new educational and professional learning opportunities for students, staff, faculty, and administrators
5. Expand systematic efforts to recruit and retain students from underrepresented groups
6. Expand systematic efforts to recruit and retain faculty, staff, and administrators from underrepresented groups
7. Identify and address institutional barriers that perpetuate equity gaps between and across underrepresented groups
8. Enhance existing and create new programs and networks for resilience and personal well-being for students, staff, faculty, and administrators
9. Enhance existing and create new programs and networks for academic, cultural, and social support for students, staff, faculty, and administrators

Expectations:

1. Increased number of students from underrepresented groups
2. Reduced inequities in retention and graduation across student populations
3. Increased number of faculty, post-doctoral scholars, and staff applicants and hires from underrepresented groups
4. Increased retention rates of students from underrepresented groups
5. Increased graduation rates of students from underrepresented groups
6. Increased numbers and retention of faculty from underrepresented groups
7. Increased retention of staff from underrepresented groups
8. Increased number of programs/activities focused on well-being and resilience

Targets:

1. Increase enrollment of first-time entering students from underrepresented ethnic/racial groups by 7%
2. Increase enrollment of Pell-eligible first-time entering students by 8%
3. Provide inclusive excellence professional education to 100% of instructors
4. Increase the participation of underrepresented gender, ethnic, and racial employees in leadership development programs by 20%
5. Provide inclusive excellence professional education to all search committee members
6. 100% of colleges and units utilize equity data and goals to develop recruitment and retention plans for increasing ethnic, racial, gender, and cultural representation of underrepresented groups among faculty and staff
7. Provide inclusive excellence professional education to all new employees

Back to The Aims of the 2025 Strategic Plan