Inclusive Excellence April 2022
In the interest of setting the record straight, the following Just the Facts emails were sent to VMI alumni, family, and friends.
On multiple occasions, VMI Board of Visitors leadership and Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, superintendent, defended VMI against charges of systemic racism. The VMI Alumni Agencies sponsored the development of a comprehensive report on the strength of the VMI program which was released on the same day as report on the investigation. This report went to the VMI family and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth. The report can be viewed at vmialumni.org/vmiaareport. From Virginia Business Magazine, March 2022: “VMI is a microcosm of society and is not immune to challenges of racism and sexual misconduct which occur on college campuses across the nation ... Racism and sexual misconduct in any form will never be tolerated at VMI.” “Charges of institutional racism at VMI are not supported by the facts.”
VMI Definitions Related to Inclusive Excellence • Diversity and inclusion: Diversity and inclusion efforts at VMI support mission readiness for the Corps of Cadets. They are principles that prepare our cadets for the world which they will enter after graduation. VMI’s efforts in this area closely mirror those of the Department of Defense and corporate America. Diversity and inclusion at VMI means integrating qualified cadets, faculty, and staff of all races, ethnicities, genders, religions, nationality, and socioeconomic status. It means understanding, respecting, and appreciating differences to strengthen the Corps of Cadets as a singular unit preparing for a life as a citizen-soldier. • Equity: At VMI, equity means that we ensure each qualified cadet has the tools necessary in order to potentially (and hopefully) succeed in our rigorous academic, military, and athletic environment. Equity means equal opportunity. What it does not mean is that we lower our standards or our definition of success. At VMI, equity-related initiatives have been in place for many years and are available to all cadets, regardless of background. These tools include the Miller Academic Center, the Mathematics Education and Resource Center, the Writing Center, and the Office of Disabilities Services, to name a few.
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Inclusive Excellence Training To better understand VMI’s Inclusive Excellence training, which addresses diversity and inclusion and was taken by cadets in either a single hour or two one-hour sessions over the entire 2021-22 academic year, a series of meetings occurred between the VMI Alumni Agencies and Institute leadership, including a meeting with David Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies chief executive officer, and Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, VMI’s 15th superintendent. The following is a summary of those meetings: • Maj. Gen. Wins and Lt. Col. Jamica Love, Ed.D., chief diversity officer, have and will continue to work directly with Gov. Youngkin’s administration to evaluate VMI’s programs and work toward a training model consistent with public colleges in Virginia. • All cadet diversity training is complete for this academic year. • The first-year training was modeled after DEI training taught at other colleges. • 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class cadets received 1 hour or less (normally 50 minutes) of training over the entire academic year. • Since they were new to the demands of VMI, 4th Class cadets received 60 minutes of training in the fall and 50 minutes in the spring. • Although attendance has been required, cadets are not required or compelled to participate. Any reports counter to this expectation were swiftly reviewed and addressed. • Early in fall 2021 and prior to the training, Lt. Col. Love met with cadet trainers/facilitators to review and discuss the training, guidelines, and questions. Cadet leaders reviewed the final list of questions and were empowered to remove those they disagreed with. No questions related to cheating or about potential violations of the Honor Code were included in the sessions.
VMI Alumni Review
