Diversity Initiatives
Antiracist Statement: The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Eriksson College of Education is committed to anti-racist, anti-bias (ABAR) initiatives in each of our teaching and learning programs. We are committed to examining and disrupting/dismantling the history, biases, and exclusionary practices that hinder the integrity, dignity, and inclusion of all students. We prioritize learning opportunities focused on culturally and racially diverse backgrounds that promote respect, empathy, equity, and ethical learning within each course. We will take action toward these commitments by:
- Using inclusive, people-first language;
- Discovering ways to be(come) activist and abolitionist educators;
- Calling others in when we encounter bias/racism;
- Engaging in professional development and reflection to increase our own knowledge;
- Recognizing and privileging the voices and work of Black, Indigenous, and other educators/researchers of color;
- Supporting students and partners in developing their own capacity in ABAR work;
- Purposefully and intentionally seeking out learning and unlearning opportunities
College of Education Strategic Diversity Plan
Austin Peay State University’s Eriksson College of Education has composed a collaborative and purposeful Strategic Diversity Plan which was developed to expand on the recognized needs and successes of our College. With our self-initiated external diversity report from TECA fresh in our minds, a group of CoE faculty (now known as the first CoE Diversity Council) volunteered in the spring semester of 2021 to work together on cultivating and growing the Eriksson College of Education’s engagement with and commitment to diversity. This plan describes the goals, action steps, and projected outcomes that the faculty and staff will strive to reach during the 2022-2023 academic year and beyond.
We acknowledge that we are guests who are gathering and moving upon the ancestral
land of the Tsalaguwetiyi People, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.
We give thanks to the larger Cherokee nation and other Native nations for making the
presence of this place currently known as Clarksville possible. We acknowledge the
legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlements that bring us together
here today. We will work towards restorative learning, understanding, and dismantling
the truths of colonization that were and are still present in this place, which is
an ongoing process. We also acknowledge the capital and infrastructures of this land
that were extracted from the nonconsensual work, forced labor, and stolen knowledge
and skills of enslaved Africans whose descendants are still awaiting justice. With
reverence and respect, we acknowledge the oppressive dynamics that have historically
occurred in this place and continue into today, and which make this Strategic Diversity
Plan even more relevant and urgent.
The document that you are reading is a first in the history of Austin Peay State University and the Eriksson College of Education. Never before has a group of dedicated staff and faculty made such a commitment to the issues of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in our College. This commitment is highlighted by the fact that our inaugural Strategic Diversity Plan (SDP) was driven and created by our faculty and staff. However, this document is not a panacea. This document is not perfect. There is no document or report that will solve centuries of injustice and inequality. But this document is a necessary step in moving our College closer to the social justice that our profession and our world demands.
As is the case with nearly every other college of education in the country, we were
not moving the needle on these important issues facing the field of education. Then
something happened that separated us from other colleges and universities. We collectively
came to the conclusion that we could do better when it came to this work. In the summer
of 2020, amidst the national conversation around race in America, we decided to take
an approach that differed from many colleges across the United States. We decided
to act instead of talk. The willingness of our faculty to address these issues and
have necessary but difficult conversations has made all the difference. Following
a collegewide meeting that summer, we decided to engage in a series of actions that
have brought us to the present moment: the creation of an Antiracist Study Group,
partnering with the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) for an external stakeholder
report, naming the first Coordinators of Diversity Initiatives, approving a diversity
statement, increasing professional development in DEI, establishing the first BIPOC
student group, recruiting more diverse candidates into our programs, and creating
the first College Diversity Council.
Our faculty and staff leaders have been at the front of this work, changing how these
issues are discussed, conceptualized, and addressed in the College. Most importantly,
this work has culminated with a living document that has the potential to change the
face of our College. This work has been a collective effort, and it is clear that
if we get to a better place, it won’t be alone – it will be together. Diversity work
is a core part of what we do. In the Eriksson College of Education, this sentiment
is now a reality. I fully endorse and support the work of the Diversity Council and
the Strategic Diversity Plan in the Eriksson College of Education.
Prentice T. Chandler, Ph. D.
Dean, Eriksson College of Education
Austin Peay State University
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
– AFRICAN PROVERB
Greetings!
Serving the Austin Peay State University campus community as the inaugural chief diversity
officer is an honor and privilege. In this role, the goal is simple: establish a campus
environment where diversity is natural and business as usual. It is not required or
meant to cause resentment. Diversity will connect to oneness and fairness, not be
a bridge to acrimony. Austin Peay is where we all work together, yet we experience
life differently. We hope our campus members, especially our students, have an opportunity
to see life from a new perspective and experience a new world they did not see before.
Following a lengthy planning process, the College of Education (COE) has launched
its five-year strategic plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), filled with
a blueprint for resources and access. This plan signifies a renewed pledge to developing
a diverse COE learning community while creating an inclusive and equitable campus
environment for all. The College of Education is building on the premise that diversity
is an action, inclusivity is cultural, and belonging is a feeling. During the implementation
of the plan, there will need to be an understanding that the contributions of students,
faculty, and staff will be essential in helping to guide the DEI process towards creative
and successful outcomes.
As the demographics of our world become more diverse, institutions of higher learning
must reflect this diversity. The first step we need starts with acknowledging that
some change is necessary. Along with change, significant work has been done so far
at Austin Peay State University; however, much more is to come! With the five-year
strategic plan in full force, the COE will be able to provide resources that better
equip students, faculty, and staff with information that matters and helps to promote
transparency in their DEI work.
The COE has made several commitments to make the College a more inclusive, equitable,
and diverse community. Diversity enhances the learning experience for all campus members
by exposing and challenging us to reflect, assess, and value the opinions, experiences,
and practices of others different from ourselves. The College strongly believes that
we must create the best possible educational environment for students whose lives
will likely be significantly changed during their time at Austin Peay State University.
As the Chief Diversity Officer, I fully support the five-year strategic plan. I will
continue to be interested in and partner with the COE as they keep our campus apprised
of their progress and their work aligns and advances these critical DEI efforts across
the campus community.
Sincerely,
LaNeeça R. Williams
Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator
Austin Peay State University