By Scarlett Howery
November 3, 2021
4 min read
November 3, 2021
4 min read
As I was recently presenting at the 2021 College Changes Everything Conference about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the higher education sector, I couldn’t help but think we’re just like many organizations.
Regardless of the sector—we’re trying to lift our own underrepresented colleagues, and uniquely to us, students. These efforts are critical components that help allow individuals to thrive in the workplace, academically and socially and ultimately, in their communities. And that’s just the beginning. The benefits of DEI to an organization is something that we can’t ignore:
In this article, I’m sharing some key takeaways from our organization’s experience with DEI, and some ideas you might consider adding to the development of your own program.
Influencing the completion of education programs is in all our best interests, our university and our corporate clients, as it allows for a more diverse pool of talent for companies to develop, retain and advance. We, just like you, are trying to help address this challenge by promoting an inclusive environment (both virtual and on-site) and designing policies that help elevate underrepresented talent.
So, as you’re thinking about how you’ll move forward your DEI goals and plans, consider these elements.
Scarlett Howery is the vice president of campus and university partnerships, providing strategic leadership for DeVry University’s 45+ campus operations and building and maintaining critical partnerships within the local communities.
Howery drives community engagement and student enrollment in each market, as well as forms strategic partnerships to foster student learning and offer workforce solutions.