DEIB Strategic Plan
As a Lutheran liberal arts institution, Newberry College is “called and empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish” (Rooted & Open). That is, called and empowered to create and nurture a community where all people are not only welcomed, but also can experience a sense of genuine belonging. We must recognize that while diversity happens, inclusion and equity require informed, proactive change.
Newberry College's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging is committed to the ongoing work of creating and nurturing a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where everyone — students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners — can learn, live, work, and thrive. Our work in the Lutheran values of radical hospitality means we not only celebrate the differences that enrich our community, but diligently work to acknowledge the inequities and exclusions that define the world we inhabit, and in turn, to develop tools to build a more just and equitable world for all. To deepen our commitment to, and build our capacity for, fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in which our diversity is celebrated and integrated into all that we do. A Presidential Task Force was created to develop a strategic action plan that centers diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across all campus entities.
The strategic plan is organized around five key priorities: