2022 Diversity Action Plan Priorities

Overview

The Haslam College of Business Diversity Action Plan provides a timeline and metrics to measure progress towards diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 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.


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 HCB curriculum, preparing them for upper-level coursework and internship opportunities.

2: Increase enrollment in and student matriculation through the HCB pre-collegiate programs.

Specific Action: 

  • Increase the number of students participating in HCB 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 College of Business precollegiate programs, focusing first on the Business Education for Talented Students (BETS) program

3: Create additional learning opportunities to expand student, faculty and staff contributions to a more inclusive college community.

Specific Action:

  • Hold a collegewide “Diversity Summit” in Fall 2022 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 collegewide development session each semester directed towards sharing best practices related to inclusion and belonging

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 in 2022 to include recruitment efforts, research/program partnership exploration and advanced degree informational sessions.

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 mentor for historically underrepresented hires both faculty and staff by pairing them with senior faculty and staff members