JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (JEDI) STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

What are the plan’s purpose and priorities?

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategic Implementation Plan provides a blueprint for actions and decisions for Fielding. Due to constant shift of the sociocultural and political landscape, the plan is designed to be adaptive. We must remain open, responsive to changes, and agile in how we go about implementing DEI in our university to ensure that we are staying true to our values and commitment to supporting lifelong learners.

How did you leverage partnerships with internal Fielding stakeholders in developing this plan, including the Global Inclusion Council and student groups?

Leveraging partnerships is essential in this work: success depends on dialogues between diverse Fielding community members. We are at a significant moment of Fielding history, when we are embarking upon an affiliation with Rowan Global, which adds to the complexity and value of our work.

We looked at the work of the previous Global Inclusion Council, existing data, including climate surveys and enrollment, retention, graduation, and hiring trends, as well as the Fielding Graduate University strategic plan. In addition, we took into consideration the findings and recommendations of several committees, along with the Board of Trustees, to inform this work. And last, we had conversations with student groups, faculty members, and the current Global Inclusion Council. We looked at where Fielding has been on the DEI journey and where the university needs to go. The plan will help us navigate the JEDI work in the next three-to-five years.

What is the significance of this document for Fielding and other educational institutions?

An institution’s diversity plan is very important because it sets a tone, and serves as a document that prioritizes the organization’s commitment to its mission, vision, and values. It is a commitment to justice. It is a commitment to equity. It is a commitment to making sure that everyone feels included and that everyone matters. It is a commitment to the success of everyone.

What is your hope for JEDI efforts at Fielding?

Our collective hope, through this JEDI plan, is for us to live and practice what it means to be the “beloved community” that we all aspire to be. Everyone who has been involved in Fielding is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in unique ways. We need to be able to actualize that in our relationships with one another.

At the core of this work is relationship building. If we can build a strong community rooted in love, authenticity, courage, and empathy, then we have moved toward being that beloved community we all aspire to be.

Reflecting on the process of developing the plan, please share some lessons learned in the process.

Fielding is a highly relational university, which is unusual for the higher education industry. In drafting this plan, it was essential to look at a variety of data, both quantitative and qualitative, and understand where we are. We knew we would not get everything 100 percent, but we worked on consulting with as many stakeholders as possible, including our alums. We then calibrated the JEDI plan with the Fielding strategic plan and other diversity efforts happening in the United States and globally. I believe it is important to understand that diversity does not happen in a vacuum, that it must address individual nuanced differences and simultaneously speak to and be responsive to the larger issues facing humanity across the world. In that respect, grounding our vision in Human Rights is essential in developing a plan that speaks to all people regardless of background and lived experience.

How can the Fielding community collaborate with the Office of DEI to reach the collective impact of the JEDI plan?

I have felt an overwhelming amount of support from students, faculty, staff, and alums. Ours is a community that is genuinely committed to DEI. It is refreshing to see that show of support.

I encourage everyone to think of new ways to participate. In doing so, let me highlight ongoing projects organized through student, faculty, and staff energy. First, we have a threepractice dialogue circle comprised of students’ and alums’ forward-thinking commitment to learning about DEI. Some of the conversations are recorded and available on Fielding’s YouTube channel. Second, is the amazing work of the Black Student Association, who hosted several events in 2022 and brought in amazing speakers who are leaders and scholars on issues pertinent to the Black experience. Third, there are several faculty members deeply engaged in research projects, publications, and various other projects that engage individuals on issues of DEI. Last, there are the various Fielding Institutes and the Fielding University Press that have served as conduits for individuals seeking to expand their research, scholarship, and commitment to DEI efforts nationally and internationally.

I sometimes think we don’t highlight these efforts enough, and my hope moving forward for this year is that we highlight those individuals who have done incredible work promoting and advancing DEI at Fielding and beyond.

I look forward to celebrating more accomplishments in the DEI work at Fielding together.

The plan will be available on Fielding's website, www.fielding.edu, in February 2023.