Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Commission

The higher education environment is being changed by the shifting dynamics of its students and its workforce. Students and employees are becoming more diverse on a broad range of dimensions including gender, sex, sexual orientation, language, age, ability status, national origin, religion, socio-economic status, as well as race, ethnicity, and heritage.

Those who manage programs and services, as well as those who help to develop the talents of students and the workforce, need to be prepared to address the environmental factors that influence performance and affect overall wellbeing.

Established in June of 2012

As a Council of forty associations that engage every aspect of higher education operations, CHEMA leaders have consciously chosen to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the membership of our higher education Associations. The shared interests of the collective body prompts CHEMA Association leaders to commit to fostering inclusive environments and to provide members guidance on how to achieve these aims. CHEMA seeks to make its collective presence felt within higher education by strengthening members’ roles in establishing diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning communities. CHEMA has developed recommended principles for Associations to help guide and support efforts to address the challenges, seize opportunities, and realize the benefits to society of such communities.

NIRSA was founded on principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The NIRSA Board adopted the CHEMA recommended principles and will appoint a Commission, to be co-chaired by Jocelyn Hill, American University and Tamara Jarrett, CORE Unlimited, to explore ways to enhance NIRSA and NIRSA member efforts in this area.

Discuss and share resources related to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in our discussion group on NIRSA Connect.

Resources

Our Strategic Values

In 2012, NIRSA adopted six Strategic Values that create a critical lens through which NIRSA volunteer leaders can envision and align our work, understand the needs of our profession and association, and take leadership.

Celebrating the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission’s work

See Related

Charges

This Commission is charged with developing concrete plans—through concrete objectives that support the Association’s Strategic Plan, pursuing measurable goals, as well as developing and delivering usable resources—within the area of equity, diversity, and inclusion for the benefit of the collegiate recreation profession and the Association. Additionally, Commissioners may be asked to provide leadership and guidance for the Association in this vital areas of campus recreation.

2017-2018 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Commission

Chair

Wendy Motch-Ellis, University of North Carolina – Asheville

James Wilkening, University of Central Florida

Members

Mike Giles, Iowa State University

Jamie Hoffman, California State University, Sacramento

Marcus Jackson, University of Illinois

Stephanne Musser, The Ohio State University

Erin O’Sullivan, NIRSA Headquarters

Erin Patchett, Colorado State University

Kim Rottet, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Andrea Snead, University of Central Florida

Lashica Thomas, Columbus State University