Statement on Diversity

by Barbara J. Addison Reid, EdD

Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) was reestablished in October 2008 to guide the Lesley community in achieving our educational mission and nurture the four core values (democracy, inquiry, equity, and community) within our community.

The mission of OEOI is to:

1. Ensure that Lesley University employs and enrolls individuals of diverse backgrounds, reflective of the increasingly diverse demographic profile of the region and the country; and
2. Create an environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential.

The goals of the OEOI are to:

1. Develop policies, procedures, and programs to guide, support, and enhance the university's capacity to accomplish its mission and goals.
2. Maintain compliance with all federal and state laws and university policy pertaining to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and anti-discrimination.
3. Resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment through informal and formal compliant resolution procedures.
4. Educate faculty, students, and staff about university policy, federal and state laws, and individual responsibility relation to equal opportunity.
5. Train managers to carry out their responsibilities in a fair and equitable manner to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, and more are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
6. On behalf of the Office of the President, sponsor diversity-related programming for faculty, students, and staff.