Addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Information Technology at a Small Liberal Arts College

Wednesday, October 27, 2021 | 4:15PM–5:00PM ET | Board 201, Poster Area, Exhibit Hall A, 200 Level
Viewing Location: Philadelphia
Session Type: Poster Session
Delivery Format: Poster
Many information technology units are considering ways to address issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within their organizations. Yet, beginning this work as an organization can feel daunting. In our presentation, we will share the story of how we began to address the principles of DEI within the Office of Information Technology Services at Colgate University, which employs more than 45 staff members across six teams. We began with a core DEI working group, which aims to surface and address DEI as it relates to the culture of ITS as an organization and to ITS’ engagement with faculty, students and staff at service points across the campus. We will describe the ways that we built an inclusive community among our IT colleagues who volunteered for the working group when it began meeting virtually in April 2021. We’ll share the strategies we employed as co-chairs to catalyze momentum for action around accessibility, recruitment, hiring, and retention. We also recognized the importance of conversing with colleagues about DEI as an important action in and of itself for deepening all of our understanding about what it means to address DEI as an IT organization within higher ed. We will conclude with the progress we have made and questions posed to participants to inspire actions of their own to address these issues.

Presenters

  • Sarah Curtis

    Associate Director of Classroom, Digital Media, and Events, Colgate University

  • Niranjan Davray

    Chief Information Officer, Colgate University

  • Christine Moskell

    Instructional Designer for Connected Learning, Colgate University