Equity Task Force begins work

Close to 150 individuals gathered virtually on Thursday (Oct. 8) for the first full meeting of the Purdue Equity Task Force. Those in attendance heard from Purdue trustee and task force chair Don Thompson, and met in small groups to discuss the process and expectations for the task force’s work through the fall semester.

“Today’s meeting was the beginning of an historic and important conversation about Purdue University and how we can better include all Boilermakers for a better learning and living experience,” Thompson said. “We heard from faculty and student representatives from across the West Lafayette campus who want fair, and equitable treatment for all, especially our Black Boilermakers. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank everyone involved for the time and commitment to helping Purdue move forward in the process of developing a recommendation for strategic implementation plans so that we can sustain a culture of inclusion.”

Task force members represent faculty, staff, students and alumni of the university and, over the next weeks and months, will continue to meet in working groups of 10-12 individuals to review data, to look at past and present investments and initiatives to ensure they remain the right ones, to identify gaps and to recommend new and/or alternate strategies.

“We will take a data-driven and objective approach as we work together to analyze, assess, find gaps and propose actionable and sustained solutions,” Thompson said. “The fact that trustees of this institution, every dean and students and faculty from vast backgrounds were in attendance shows how very committed we all are to real, impactful and sustained change for the betterment of Purdue.”

Information about the Equity Task Force can be found at www.purdue.edu/bot. Click on the Equity Task Force button to find current updates on the work of the task force, an overview presentation outlining the task force work and timeline, and a submission form for those who would like to provide suggestions to the task force and its subcommittees.