Above photo features participants at the July 2021 summit.

In May, the Inclusive Campus Initiative was formed as a partnership between Residential and Hospitality Services and Student Affairs and Services to raise awareness of underrepresented student concerns.

The initiative is a result of the leadership of Senior Vice President for RHS and Auxiliary Enterprises and Interim Vice President of SAS Vennie Gore, and informed by the work of the DEI Steering Committee and the Task Force on Racial Equity. 

This project is an effort to address ongoing student demands that have resurfaced year after year during community town halls. Gore has consistently heard from students that they do not feel safe and addressing this is a top priority as two cohorts of students enter campus for the first time this fall.

“We are undertaking this project to develop inclusive strategies that can be implemented this fall in the hopes that students of all identities will feel safe on campus,” said Gore.
 
This past July, an Inclusive Campus Initiative Summit was held at Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center where over one hundred participants began strategizing plans on ways to support student concerns. 

Beginning on Monday, Sept. 13, the initiative will launch a series of virtual community forums aimed at increasing the visibility of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus. The forums will offer students an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns with university leaders. The next forum will feature Marlon Lynch, vice president for public safety and chief of police at MSU who will be addressing the topic of campus safety. 

Forums will be held via Zoom Mondays (Sept. 13, Sept. 27, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Nov. 15) from 5 to 6:15 p.m. EST and are open to MSU students, staff and faculty. Registration is required.