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Strategic Plan

Introduction

Summary

This strategic plan summarizes the essential work of the Luther Diversity Center. The plan moves from a definition of diversity to a statement of the benefits of fostering a diverse learning environment. These statements identify the center’s vision of the desired impact of diversity on campus. The mission statement summarizes how the center will work with others to create this vision.

The goals of the center are broad statements that specify the purpose of center initiatives, while the core strategies articulate the priorities that support center goals. The plan concludes with a discussion of staffing and resource needs, the role of the Diversity Council in implementing the plan, and a concluding statement that summarizes how the center supports the mission of the college.

Definition of Diversity

Diversity encompasses complex differences in perspectives and points of view among members of the institution as well as among individuals who make up the wider community. Diversity includes important and interrelated dimensions of human identity such as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, socio-economic status, citizenship status, religion, sexual orientation, ability, and age.

These differences are important to understand, but they cannot be used to predict any individual’s values, choices, or responses. Valuing diversity involves deepening our understanding of how overlapping and multiple identities relate to patterns of socialization and affiliation. These patterns influence the way people understand and interpret the world.

Understanding difference involves recognizing and appreciating the intercultural dynamics, social identities, and the wide range of cultural options that diversity provides for everyone. A commitment to diversity also recognizes that disparities in social and economic status among groups reflect the continuing impact of racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice and bigotry.

Benefits of Diversity

As a liberal arts college, Luther’s mission supports “a kind of learning that moves students beyond immediate interests and present knowledge into a larger world.” In this way, students become “resilient enough to confront and evaluate the changing society in which they serve.” Engaging diversity achieves the college’s mission by enhancing the social, intellectual, emotional, economic, and spiritual life of our community while challenging students to explore a wider range of human experience.

From an educational standpoint, a diverse learning environment improves the educational experience for all students and promotes respect for each individual learner. In addition, society benefits when higher education works to ensure that the path to leadership and economic opportunity is open to talented and qualified individuals of all backgrounds.

From a social standpoint, responding to the changing demographics of our society ensures the college’s future growth and development.

From a cultural standpoint, students exposed to the complexities of difference develop a more complete picture of the world and are better prepared to participate in an increasingly global economy.

From an ethical standpoint, engaging diversity as part of the learning process helps students appreciate disparities within the human condition and strengthens their commitment to work for justice and peace.

Vision, Mission, Values and Goals of the Luther Diversity Center

Vision for Diversity

The vision statement articulates what the Luther Diversity Center envisions as the desired result of its efforts to enhance diversity.

The Diversity Center envisions a campus strongly committed to access and excellence for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, socio-economic status, citizenship status, religion, sexual orientation, ability, or age. In the classroom, the center envisions active engagement in learning about difference through effective teaching that allows students to grow in their sense of social responsibility and cultural appreciation. Beyond the classroom, the center envisions a campus community where people from diverse backgrounds can develop their unique contributions to teaching, learning, and service in a climate where all feel valued, respected, and safe.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Luther Diversity Center is to:

• Promote a deeper appreciation and a greater understanding of the diversity of individuals and groups that make up our campus;
• Strengthen access to multicultural perspectives within the tradition of a liberal arts education;
• Advocate for policies that promote the inclusion and participation of all members of the community.

Statement of Center Values

The values of the Diversity Center are principles that guide the development of its programs. These principles also articulate the center’s framework for evaluating college polices and programs with respect to their impact on diversity. The Luther Diversity Center values:

• Creating diverse learning environments because they are an effective way to learn about the depth and breath of human experience and to prepare students for success in an increasingly diverse and interdependent society.
• Respecting the rights of members in our community to hold diverse perspectives and points of view and to dialogue openly about the values and implications of these views.
• Recruiting and retaining students from diverse backgrounds with the interest and capacity to succeed at Luther including students who have been underrepresented on campus because of disparities in social, economic, or educational opportunities or who are adversely affected by institutional practices that create barriers to the recruitment and retention of faculty of color.
• Treating people as unique individuals who are entitled to participate in a learning environment free of bias, harassment, and discrimination.
• Teaching students to function as responsible citizens who are equipped to consider the impact of their individual actions as well as collective decisions made by governments, corporations, institutions, and families on the lives of others.
• Educating students to safeguard the civil, economic, and political rights of all citizens.

Center Goals

The programs of the Luther Diversity Center are designed to:

• Enhance institutional outreach to improve recruitment and retention of international students and U.S. students, staff, and faculty of color.
• Serve as a resource to ensure that the curriculum includes diverse cultural perspectives and helps students understand how different social and cultural groups have contributed to knowledge in their chosen field of study.
• Provide leadership for campus-wide efforts to promote diversity at Luther.
• Provide voice and visibility for groups on campus working to ensure equal and fair access to opportunities at Luther while working to ensure that systems are in place to prevent discrimination; and to assist, when appropriate, in the resolution of incidents of discrimination and intolerance on campus.

Core Strategies to Achieve the Luther Diversity Center Goals

The core strategies outline the priorities, objectives, and partners that are necessary to achieve center goals.

Strategy 1: Access. Develop and implement strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of students, staff and faculty of color.

1. 1.1. Strategic Goal: Support efforts to recruit and retain international students and U.S. students of color.
   Strategic Objective: Conduct outreach and support alumni activities for recruiting international, multicultural, U.S. students of color, and/or students from underrepresented groups.
2. 1.2. Strategic Goal: Maintain outreach to international students and students from historically underrepresented groups to enhance their educational experience at Luther.
   Strategic Objective: Serve as a resource for students from other countries and different backgrounds to provide the support they need to persist and succeed at Luther.
3. 1.3. Strategic Goal: Enhance marketing to promote the college’s commitment to diversity.
   Strategic Objective: Develop brochures and other promotional materials to promote diversity on campus including developing and maintaining the Diversity Center newsletter and website.
4. 1.4. Strategic Goal: Promote admissions, financial aid, and program strategies to increase educational opportunities at Luther for students from different class backgrounds.
   Strategic Objective: Promote projects to increase socio-economic diversity at Luther.
5. 1.5. Strategic Goal: Serve as a resource for faculty recruitment and retention.
   Strategic Objective: Develop and implement best practices that have proven to be effective in enhancing faculty diversity.
6. 1.6. Strategic Goal: Serve as a resource to enhance diversity among Luther staff.
   Strategic Objective: Develop an HR Partnership to enhance staff understanding and appreciation for diversity.
   Strategic Objective: Work with HR to increase the number of staff persons from underrepresented groups.

Responsible Partners

• President’s Office
• Dean’s Office
• Admissions Department
• Development Office
• Alumni Relations
• Student Life
• Public Information
• Marketing Group
• LIS
• Financial Services
• Academic Planning Committee
• Student Support Services
• Human Resources
• external partners

Strategy 2: Innovation. Foster curriculum innovation, changes in classroom climate, and enhanced faculty development through diversity education initiatives.

1. 2.1. Strategic Goal: Support curricular changes that promote an understanding of diversity and include approaches to teaching that are responsive to the needs of students from different backgrounds and cultures.
   Strategic Objective: Serve as a resource to faculty who are developing pedagogical models designed to enhance reflective thinking around the complexities of identity and difference.
   Strategic Objective: Collaborate with academic departments to expand curricular and co-curricular offerings to respond to the needs of underrepresented students while improving the learning environment for all students.
2. 2.2. Strategic Goal: Promote curricular changes using methods that challenge students to think critically about the social and ethical implications of diversity.
   Strategic Objective: Support curricular changes that help students understand the power dynamics of difference.
3. 2.3. Strategic Goal: Encourage faculty development efforts aimed at acquiring the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions to incorporate effectively diverse perspectives into the curriculum.
   Strategic Objective: Work with the Diversity Council to sponsor faculty development seminars and activities to promote classrooms where diversity is valued and appreciated.
4. 2.4. Strategic Goal: Support the development of teaching approaches that increase opportunities for students to experience cultural perspectives that are different from their own.
   Strategic Objective: Initiate a faculty development partnership focused on exposing students to a wide range of cultural perspectives.

Responsible Partners

• Dean’s Office
• Diversity Council
• Department Heads
• appropriate faculty committees and divisions

Strategy 3: Inclusion. Develop and implement campus-wide diversity initiatives and programming.

1. 3.1. Strategic Goal: Enhance campus and community climate for historically underrepresented groups by implementing programs that foster a welcoming atmosphere where all feel valued, respected, and safe.
   Strategic Objective: Promote campus and community outreach to ensure dialogue that increases our understanding of and respect for difference that includes all aspects of the Luther community and extends to the Decorah community.
2. 3.2. Strategic Goal: Sponsor student organizations in an effort to help students understand different social perspectives and benefit from a diverse learning environment.
   Strategic Objective: Serve as a resource to student organizations that advance the educational interests of historically underrepresented groups.
3. 3.3. Strategic Goal: Initiate partnerships that foster scholarship, discussion, and knowledge dissemination to strengthen the College’s commitment to diversity.
   Strategic Objective: Initiate projects to design, implement, and advance best practices in teaching diversity and fostering institutional change, including working with the Dean’s Office on projects to enhance faculty commitment and expertise in engaging diversity as part of the learning environment.
4. 3.4. Strategic Goal: Engage diversity through programming aimed at reducing prejudice and helping students, faculty, and staff navigate situations that result from encountering differences.
   Strategic Objective: Develop partnerships through the Diversity Council to provide appropriate, relevant, and cost effective diversity training for faculty, staff, and students.

Responsible Partners

• President’s Office
• Diversity Council
• College Ministries
• Program Directors
• Diversity Center groups
• Global Concerns groups
• Study Abroad, Education
• Campus Programming
• Dining Services

Strategy 4: Equity. Advise administration and faculty on equity and diversity issues including the investigation of complaints, mediation, and the use of dispute resolution.

1. 4.1. Strategic Goal: Develop the leadership needed to champion and produce a strong statement in support of diversity as a mission imperative at Luther.
   Strategic Objective: Engage Diversity Council as an advocate for institutional changes that foster a diversity statement.
2. 4.2. Strategic Goal: Advocate for policies that promote student diversity through the work of individual students and student groups interested in enhancing diversity.
   Strategic Objective: Support student-initiated advocacy to enhance the climate for diversity on campus.
3. 4.3. Strategic Goal: Enhance non-discrimination policies, advise faculty and administration on issues of equity and diversity; make recommendations to resolve complaints of bias.
   Strategic Objective: Develop a policy review process to accomplish this goal.
4. 4.4. Strategic Goal: Promote dialog about the role of diversity in the Lutheran faith and in Lutheran education.
   Strategic Objective: Develop a partnership to achieve this goal.

Responsible Partners

• President’s Office
• appropriate academic departments
• College Ministries
• "A Sense of Vocation" Program
• external partners

Implementation

To implement the strategic plan, the Diversity Center partners with administrative offices and works closely with academic departments and other groups to develop and implement diversity related programs and initiatives. Consistent with the strategic direction of the center, the staff will develop an annual program plan outlining specific tactics, measurable objectives, and budget priorities for implementing the broader strategic plan.

Staffing and Resource Needs

Partnering with existing programs and departments enhances coordination and leverages existing resources to promote diversity. The expanded role envisioned by the strategic plan however will require additional funds to enhance the center’s capabilities in recruitment, program development, and research. The center will work closely with the College Council to identify the institutional resources needed to develop these capabilities. In addition, the center will work with the Development Office to expand the college’s corporate and foundation base. Developing external partners to enhance diversity-related initiatives would include working with the Development Office to increase individual giving and endowments.

Role of the Diversity Council in Achieving Diversity Center Goals

The Diversity Council supports the center in developing its program and in addressing on-going diversity concerns. With respect to the strategic plan, the primary role of the Diversity Council is to initiate the planning process and monitor the effectiveness of the plan. To assist the council and the administration in evaluating the plan’s impact, center staff will work with the administration to strengthen reporting and assessment mechanisms as part of the overall institutional protocol for monitoring campus programs.

Conclusion: The Role of the Luther Diversity Center in Achieving the College’s Mission

The Luther Diversity Center contributes to the overall mission of the college by enhancing the community’s understanding of and commitment to diversity. Moreover, the Diversity Center fosters the college’s vision of service by implementing a program that “encourages the entire community to deal reflectively with challenges facing human beings in the world.” In this way, the Diversity Center works with the community to empower students, faculty and staff to engage diversity as a means to understanding the “significance of learning for responsible human life.”

The center’s mission and values reflect a vision of Luther as a learning community whose mix of diverse backgrounds and perspectives is integral to the vitality of campus life and the college’s liberal arts curriculum.

As a consequence of its vision, mission and values, the Diversity Center is uniquely positioned to affirm and encourage engagement across differences. Engaging diversity as part of the learning process helps students achieve a greater understanding of the complex nature of difference including the ability to recognize power relationships that foster inequality. The center also advocates for policies that increase the presence of historically underrepresented groups at Luther while fostering a climate that is conducive to full inclusion and participation at the college and in the broader community.