Commit to inclusive excellence this fall.

As faculty and staff members at Kent State University, what can you do to help impact the strategic plan for your department, your division and the university as a whole? Everything!

It is not every day that faculty, staff and students are given the opportunity to collaborate and directly impact the strategic plan on a universitywide level on a daily basis, but a yearlong initiative will give us all the opportunity to do just that. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is asking everyone at Kent State University - students, faculty and staff - to commit to explore, learn, share and understand the various aspects of each and every person who makes up the great community that we call Kent State - in other words, to commit to inclusive excellence.

In Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton's 2009 State of the University Address, the charge was given to put the university's strategic plan into action as it relates to inclusion. President Lefton proclaimed 2010 the Year of Yes, and one part of the strategic plan calls for a more welcoming, inclusive atmosphere for our students, faculty and staff.

To meet that charge, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has commissioned 100 Commitments as the way for the university to bring inclusive excellence to Kent State University. The 100 Commitments initiative takes the university's commitment to diversity - as articulated in our strategic plan - to an innovative level.

The mission of 100 Commitments is to unite the greater Kent State community through personal actions that build relationships and promote acceptance, understanding and mutual respect for one another. As faculty and staff of Kent State University, we each wield the power to be role models of inclusive excellence. We ask that you take the 100 Commitments to your respective units and promote them to show your division's commitment to making Kent State 100 percent inclusive.

As your part of the 100 Commitment initiative, we ask that you attempt at least half of the commitments - the commitments will be in the form of activities that allow you to explore, learn, share and understand things about everyone with whom you interact across our campuses. Activities are deigned to be fun and engaging - read an article, watch a movie, engage in conversation, etc. So, how can you show your commitment?

Because this is a universitywide initiative that involves students, faculty and staff, you have three ways to show your commitment: through direct participation, attempt the commitments; through classroom involvement, infuse activities in your coursework for students to attempt together; and through resource dissemination, provide information for any campus-related activities that may coincide with Inclusive Excellence to be included in the 100 Commitments Resource Library (an online site that will provide participants with information about events, activities, etc. that relate to the various commitments).

Within the next few days, departments will receive a "How-to" kit, giving further details about how each of us can become involved. Watch e-Inside for answers to questions and additional information. You may also contact the committee at 100commitments@kent.edu for further details or to share initiative-related resources.

We ask you to take this opportunity, during the Year of Yes, to help the university show its commitment to inclusive excellence by instituting 100 Commitments in your units. Your participation in the 100 Commitments initiative will help your department, your division and your university to do its part in fulfilling the university's strategic plan and in following the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion's strategic map. Together, we can make the strategic plan a strategic reality!