A message from SUNY regarding diversity during the COVID-19 pandemic

We are writing today with a message informed by SUNY Chief Diversity Officers. During the disruption caused by the COVID-19 Crisis, chief diversity officers across the System are relaying concerns about racial bias incidents against members of Asian communities on our campuses, as well as questions from staff and faculty about how to create more inclusive classrooms as they transition to online and other forms of remote instruction.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize that “stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease.” Together we can work to address this bias by reminding our community of the facts around the disease and generally focusing on inclusion across instruction and in our communications.

Below are links to best practices for inclusive instruction that address accessibility concerns as well as issues of micro-aggressions in the classroom. We want to ask for your help in sharing these resources with your deans, faculty affairs leadership, and centers for excellence in teaching to assist faculty members in proactively addressing issues of inclusion and equity that may arise in the online and distance learning environments.

 

In addition, we welcome volunteers from SUNY faculty already well-versed in these practices to develop a webinar for faculty colleagues as part of the SUNY Remote Teaching Clinic. Those interested should contact the Office of the Provost by email, provost@suny.edu.