University Communications Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan

University Communications (UC) seeks to collaborate with department and University stakeholders to complement and support the St. Lawrence University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan by outlining next steps specific to the operations of University Communications.

Note: The division includes University Communications, Offices Services, and Student Mail Services, as well as North Country Public Radio. Each unit will tailor goals, objectives, and action plans specific to the operations and staff.

The UC plan focuses on:

1. Raising UC teams’ awareness and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues through education and professional development.
2. Determining how to apply this awareness and understanding to advance the work of University Communications by outlining a feasible, attainable, actionable agenda for short and long-term outcomes related to the work of the division.
3. Defining how University Communications’ efforts can assist in institutionalizing, communicating, and exemplifying the values and objectives outlined in the University's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. 

Initiative 1: Connection

UC will connect community members across different social identities to gain new perspectives and develop meaningful relationships. The department will incorporate regular professional development opportunities throughout the calendar year to achieve the following:

• Gain a better understanding of DE&I, impact, and engagement and how language, visual, and personal interactions contribute to fostering an inclusive community.
• Prioritize professional development to further the team’s understanding of DE&I issues of inclusion and dignity of every individual, including but not limited to personal pronouns, preferred names, implicit bias, microaggressions, and active listening, to name a few.
• Focus on providing welcoming, supportive, and positive experiences when interacting with all public-facing UC staff, as in our Student Mail Center and Office Services operations.
• Assist in promoting University standards/guidelines which include DE&I best practices.

Initiative 2: Cultivation

University Communications will cultivate an inclusive, dynamic, and evolving communication strategies in which Laurentians from all positionalities and from a wide variety of identities and backgrounds, will be represented across all areas of communications.

• Audit and define University Communications outlets to assess DE&I strengths/weaknesses in digital and print environments, including website, social media, email communications, and University interfaces as well as printed material related to external initiatives such as recruitment and fundraising.
• Devise workflow to maximize strategic content inclusivity and respect of all cultures and individuals.
• Evaluate current digital communications policy and procedures for University content contributors including DE&I concerns/solutions in relationship to having authentic and diverse representation throughout St. Lawrence’s digital platforms.
• Remove unnecessary and antiquated terminology from existing digital content and adhere to comprehensive digital accessibility for both front and backend users.
• Update University Brand guides and Editorial Style Guide to include DE&I best practices.

Initiative 3: Collaboration and Partnerships

To ensure that all members of the community have opportunities to participate, grow, and flourish, UC will align efforts in content creation and campus services in the following ways:

• Expand partnerships with LGBTQIA, BIPOC, international students, and other underrepresented identity groups within our student, faculty, staff, and alumni populations to capture and feature and amplify the voices of people and groups from diverse identities throughout the Laurentian community.
• Participate in ongoing campus workshops and community dialogues on D&I topics and current events presented by campus groups/departments, such as the faculty/staff group CARE).

Initiative 4: Expand

UC will expand the presence of individuals from underrepresented social identity groups in our student teams and campus partnerships. The department will continue to expand representation in the following ways:

• Explore opportunities to diversify our teams and workforce.
• Recruit and hire more student workers and interns from underrepresented communities across the Laurentian community to be part of our UC teams.