A Message From Karen Davis, Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence

Karen Davis

The Association of American Colleges & Universities defines inclusive excellence as “designed to help colleges and universities integrate diversity, equity, and educational quality efforts into their missions and institutional operations.”

The Office Inclusive Excellence is committed to breaking barriers and building bridges in our community.  We augment and integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion within the college through education, research, dialogue, policy, and assessment.  The Office leads high-impact student retention programs, and hosts training and education for faculty, staff, and students.

I am excited and honored to dedicate myself to enhancing our College’s culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity. I ardently believe in the vision of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and I am pleased to be in a position to move the needle in these critical areas.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with ideas, questions, and concerns. Working together, we can have the most significant impact.

Best Regards,

Karen Davis
Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence

Kate Pynn
Kate Pynn
Director, Student Programs
A portrait of Shenee Bletson
Sheneé Pecora Bletson
Office Coordinator

Leadership Dialogue Circles

Through our partnership with InterFaith Works we use dialogue circles to develop inclusive excellence leadership skills—crucial for enhancing campus climate and skills cited by employers as essential for leadership in today’s global, diverse, and multicultural workforce.

Dialogue circles bring people together in small groups to foster mutual understanding and trust, and to find additional ways to work together, informing and promoting problem-solving. Dialogue circles are led by diverse, trained facilitators to address and encourage understanding across identity differences. The dialogue circles are graded, one-credit courses that address the challenging issues of race, ethnicity, and gender head-on through open dialogue. By participating, students will gain the skills to become a more competitive candidate in the global workplace and learn to forge healthier, more effective relationships.  

Inclusive Excellence Council

The ECS Inclusive Excellence Council is led by the Assistant Dean and comprised of faculty, staff and students. Driven by work in various sub-committees, the council is an action based group focused on representation, expanding opportunities for underrepresented minorities and females and supporting the ECS Leadership Dialogue Circle program.


Student Support Programs

  • Academic Excellence Workshops (AEW)
  • Scholar Programs
  • SummerStart for first-year students
  • Student Organizations
  • Tutoring

Ambassador Scholars

Achievements

Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science received bronze level status by the American Society for Engineering Education’s (ASEE) Diversity Recognition Program. The program’s goal is to help engineering, engineering technology, and computing programs promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in member colleges and ultimately in the workplace.

Syracuse University’s bronze status from the ASEE is valid for three years and begins in 2021.

Updates, Questions, and Feedback

For additional information and updates on diversity and inclusion efforts in the college and the University, be sure to utilize the following outlets:

Diversity and Inclusion at Syracuse University

STOP Bias

Campus Commitments to Diversity and Inclusion

Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services (EOIRS)

The Center for Disability Resources

The Office of the University Ombuds

The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families

To ask questions or provide feedback on these crucial topics, please refer to the following options: