A collaborative vision to guide equity and access at OSU.
The Office of Institutional Diversity is happy to announce the launch of the Diversity Action Plan — a road map to advance access, belonging and success for all Oregon State community members.
Developed over a year, the Diversity Action Plan includes input from across the university. It was created through more than 20 engagement sessions, where more than 300 OSU community members from every location, college and administrative unit contributed ideas.
The result? The Diversity Action Plan contains initiatives and tactics directly supporting Oregon State’s new strategic plan — Prosperity Widely Shared — including helping students finish their degree in a timely manner, prioritizing research, developing an enterprise approach to new innovation and partnerships, building faculty excellence and increasing enrollment. This alignment further highlights the importance of advancing equity in every part of the university.
Completing these actions starts with removing barriers to success facing minoritized and underrepresented communities. These include meeting financial need, building robust mentorship programs, providing culturally relevant experiential learning opportunities and creating academic supports that respond to the needs of adult learners, veterans and first-generation students.
The Diversity Action Plan will resolve these issues through a variety of tactics, by:
- Reducing and eliminating financial barriers through scholarships, need-based awards and emergency funding.
- Developing stronger pathways for students who transfer to OSU.
- Creating a network of culturally related alumni as mentors.
- Implementing employee training on conducting research through an equity lens.
- Building relationships with community partners who assist underserved Oregon communities.
- Recruiting and retaining faculty and employees of color.
- Incorporating frameworks for flexible learning options, including Ecampus and community college dual enrollment.
While these are just a few examples, the Diversity Action Plan includes several other efforts to make Oregon State a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone who attends. Launched in winter term 2024, the Diversity Action Plan will continue to grow and evolve.
"We are so excited to finally share our new Diversity Action Plan because it is the road map for achieving Prosperity Widely Shared through inclusive excellence. The plan will be integrated with the implementation of our university strategic plan for the first time in our history. This integration will allow university leaders to understand their unique role in ensuring equity and belonging in all major priorities of the university for the next several years."
Teresita Alvarez-Cortez
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Diversity Initiatives
For further details, visit beav.es/dap.