Faculty Diversity Council (FDC)

The Faculty Diversity Council was originally established in 2009 by a group of �󷢲�Ʊ’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) faculty. Today, its membership is open to anyone committed to the FDC’s mission which, at its heart, is to improve the recruitment and retention of racially minoritized faculty at �󷢲�Ʊ, and to promote community for all �󷢲�Ʊ employees of color. We advise the administration, run workshops, hold community-building events, and manage a mentoring program for faculty. We also invite staff to join many of our social events.

If you are an employee at �󷢲�Ʊ interested in the recruitment and retention of BIPOC faculty and in building an inclusive, welcoming community that is inclusive of faculty and staff of color, we welcome you to join our mailing list to be invited to our activities and meetings.

Signature Programs and Objectives

Professional Development

We ensure that all faculty feel supported from the time of hire until their promotion to full professor. To that end, we regularly offer workshops to make sure faculty feel prepared for each stage of their career and are aware of the resources available on campus. Our workshops include topics such as tips for classroom management and personal and professional wellness.

Mentorship

In addition to group workshops, faculty can request to be paired with a senior faculty mentor. This provides junior faculty with an advocate and one-on-one mentor outside of their department. The Faculty Diversity Council provides support so that mentors and mentees can meet for lunch several times a year.

Advocacy

Making sure all faculty have a voice and hand in University-wide affairs is at the heart of our mission. Tenured FDC members meet yearly or as needed to share and gather ideas, concerns and perspectives about University affairs to be shared with administrators.

Community

We take a holistic approach to building a diverse and inclusive community of scholars. Beyond the professional support, the Faculty Diversity Council organizes social gatherings throughout the year to foster a sense of belonging on and beyond campus. Open to BIPOC faculty, staff, and their families, as well as any and all employees interested supporting the FDC’s mission, these social events are designed with a broad, intersectional understanding of diversity and often incorporate other folks in our networks who, because of national origin, religion, ability, or sexuality, for example, are seeking an inclusive community. Our events include things like dining out in Syracuse, hiking, apple-picking, and mixers with faculty and staff from neighboring colleges.