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A Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In his opening message as president of Rutgers, Jonathan Holloway shared his belief that delivering on the principles of equity and inclusion requires constant attention and a determined commitment to improve. He asserted that in “doing its part in repairing the world,” Rutgers would identify and take concrete and measurable actions to address social, economic, and racial inequities. This work would grow out of community conversations and engagement as well as presidential initiatives that reflect institutional best practices in the broader world of higher education.

University Equity Audit

As the first of these actions, President Holloway commissioned an internal University Equity Audit—an initial step in pursuing excellence by increasing Rutgers’ university-wide, on-the-ground commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), starting with its leadership. The overarching goals of the audit were to advance Rutgers’ institutional embrace of diversity as a core value and to grapple with where Rutgers currently stands in reflecting this value. The audit’s three-pronged project included the following: 

  • Leadership perception survey to identify areas of strength and weakness. 
  • Self-study in which executive and senior vice presidents summarized existing activities that support these core values and reflected on the gap between current challenges and their aspirations for diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Equity Scorecard, using quantitative metrics to measure access, retention, success, and leadership representation for historically underrepresented groups by race and gender at Rutgers.

In Pursuit of Excellence: University Equity Audit, a report on the findings of the audit, including an Executive Summary, was issued in September 2020. In his address to the University Senate on September 25, 2020, President Holloway will discuss the audit’s conclusions and its implications for further action. Enobong (Anna) Branch, senior vice president for equity, led the audit and prepared the report.

A New Position: Senior Vice President for Equity

Enobong (Anna) Branch

President Holloway has appointed Anna Branch to a new position in the central administration, senior vice president for equity. Establishing the office and making it an integral part of the university’s central leadership are measures intended to cultivate investments in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; compel accountability as Rutgers seeks to build a better university; and send a clear signal regarding Rutgers’ core institutional values. The office will strengthen Rutgers’ role as a leader on the national stage by broadening expectations for how and where excellence is found.

In Pursuit of Excellence: University Equity Audit Report - Executive Summary

cover of the In Pursuit of Excellence: University Equity Audit report

The findings from the University Equity Audit will shape the development of a university-wide diversity strategic planning process to be launched this academic year that brings in the voices, ideas, and energy of the diverse stakeholders in the Rutgers community. Some key findings of the audit, described in the Executive Summary, include the following:

Leadership Perception Survey While the vast majority of leaders recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as critically important now, the central administration has work to do to demonstrate they can lead institutional efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Central Administration Self-Study The central administration should develop a strategic plan to meaningfully expand awareness of and engagement in DEI as a university priority, should offer a DEI certificate for faculty and staff, and should build stronger pipelines to attract new and draw on existing diverse talent at Rutgers.

Equity Scorecard The equity scorecard tied quantitative metrics to equity priorities for increasing the representation of historically underrepresented groups at Rutgers, enabling the university to identify areas where progress is most needed to advance its equity priorities. The most immediate preceding year, fiscal 2020, will serve as the baseline from which to measure future progress.

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