SIU continues to keep its commitment, as states around the U.S. put bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
CARBONDALE, Ill. (WSIL) --- SIU continues to keep its commitment, as states around the U.S. put bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Back in 2021, SIU President Daniel Mahony made advancing anti-racism on SIU system campuses a priority.
Dr. Sheila Caldwell, SIU System Vice President of Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion announced at SIU'S Board of Trustees meeting they've been invited to present about ADEI all over the country including D.C. Los Angeles, Dallas, and Boston.
"It's really critical in this day and age for us to be really kind of like holding the baton for anti-racist diversity and inclusion," Calwell said. "In 30 states, they have passed anti-D.E.I. legislation."
SIU is being recognized for becoming a leading institution when it comes to anti-racism, and they are going to Weill Cornell's diversity week to receive an honor.
"We recognize that it's important to communicate loudly that we are against oppression in all of its forms, whether it be race, um, class LGBTQA community, people with disabilities. We're committed to all of those groups ensuring that they have an equitable experience on our campuses," Caldwell said.
At their board of Trustees meeting, they gave individual recognitions, including two Lifetime achievement awards, to two SIU Edwardsville Professors.
Dr. Catherine Bentley and Dr. Vanessa Brown were honored with Dr. Wesley G. Robinson-McNeese ADEI Lifetime Achievement Awards.
"I have been really fighting for social justice all the way from the time I was four or five years old. So it's been my life's dream to really be a voice for the voiceless and to really stand up for the calls. And it has come at a sacrifice, but it's been a great sacrifice," Brown said.
Bentley says she drew inspiration from her parents and passed it on to her students.
"I've really been proud of that. The students that have come there have found a home. They've grown, they found their leadership skills, their creativity and artistic talents have been honed in black theater workshops. So I'm really proud of that," Bentley said.
Calwell says The SIU universities have a D.A.C. ADEI policy review underway that will end in October. They will also have to complete an inaugural equity action required by the Illinois Board of Higher Education by May 1st.
"I think this is a good thing," Calwell says. "Because it's going to allow us to talk about the students that we serve and share any institutional gaps, whether it be a retention, progression, completion rates."
SIU also held a system retention day made possible by a $300,000 alumina grant.
