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Diversity Action Plan Priorities
The Haslam College of Business Diversity Action Plan provides a timeline and measurable outcomes to review progress towards supporting our core values. The action plan is evaluated based on our objectives to promote a culture of accountability as it pertains to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Each of the six goals include specific action steps to reach our desired outcomes.
![Students posing on a balcony](https://haslam.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0700.jpg)
1.
Strengthen continuing emphasis on improving undergraduate student retention for historically underrepresented groups, first-generation students and students with academic challenges.
Specific Action:
- Expand breadth and depth of the “Sophomore Mentoring Program” providing second-year students with a framework and support structure for navigating the second year of the Haslam College of Business curriculum, preparing them for upper-level coursework and internship opportunities
![Students holding signs and cheering](https://haslam.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/students-holding-signs.jpg)
2.
Increase enrollment in and student matriculation through the HCB pre-collegiate programs.
Specific Action:
- Increase the number of students participating in Haslam precollegiate programs and the percentage of program completers applying to and enrolling at the University of Tennessee
- Expand scholarship opportunities of students who successfully complete the Haslam precollegiate programs, focusing first on the Business Education for Talented Students (BETS) program
![Students working on paperwork in class](https://haslam.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5737-scaled-1.jpg)
3.
Create additional learning opportunities to expand student, faculty and staff contributions to a more inclusive college community.
Specific Action:
- Hold a college-wide “Inclusion & Engagement Summit” aimed at increased understanding of what constitutes a nurturing, inclusive community and how our individual and collective attitudes and actions contribute
- Continue to deliver a college-wide development session each semester directed towards sharing best practices related to inclusion and belonging
![Group of people sitting in chairs](https://haslam.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FAMU-Visit-2.jpg)
4.
Build partnerships, specifically through more intentional, systematic visits to Historically Black Collegiate Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
Specific Action:
- Conduct a minimum of two such visits to include recruitment efforts, research/program partnership exploration and advanced degree informational sessions
![Group at CADS office](https://haslam.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WSSU-Visit-1-1.jpg)
5.
Attract and retain greater numbers of historically underrepresented populations into faculty, staff and administrative positions.
Specific Action:
- Continue to proactively search for talented candidates using resources provided by nationally recognized organizations
- Assign mentors for historically underrepresented hires, both faculty and staff, by pairing them with senior faculty and staff members