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MOMENTUM
A Web Letter from the Office of the Provost - February 2020
Democracy, Civility and Freedom of Expression events coming in the spring

By Mary Jane Chew

Diversity and Inclusion

Vet Med diversity spotlight

Although the Division of Diversity and Inclusion provides leadership for university-wide initiatives focused on maximizing student potential and creating a sense of belonging, our colleges across campus are also deeply committed to the goal. All have robust diversity and inclusion initiatives that engage college leadership, faculty, staff and students. 

In this ongoing series we will share the stories of our college and unit diversity and inclusion initiatives and the positive impact they are having on our campus community.

First up: College of Veterinary Medicine

The official stated mission for the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine is: “To provide learning opportunities that promote awareness, self-reflection, critical thinking and professional development through a social justice lens, resulting in an appreciation for diversity in all of its forms."

Latonia Craig, assistant dean for inclusive excellence, breaks it down even more.

“In our college, we all understand the value in each other and our individual role in sustaining a climate that supports the working and learning experiences of our faculty, staff and students,” Craig says. “We like to say that we put diversity in the Purdue name, Promoting, Unity, Respect (through) Diversity, Understanding and Excellence.” 

In addition to being the state’s only veterinary college, Veterinary Medicine also proudly houses the nation’s only Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. The center coordinates the Purdue Veterinary Medicine diversity certificate program. 

“The online certificate program is offered to our faculty, staff and students as well as all 29 other veterinary medicine schools across the nation,” Craig said 

The responsibility for creating and helping to implement the college’s strategic plan for diversity falls to a 29-member Diversity Action Committee made up of 19 faculty and staff members and 10 students.  The committee is working on the new strategic plan and looks forward to launching it this semester. 

“The Diversity Action Committee’s programming has had significant impact on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine community by not only starting the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion, but more importantly ensuring that it continues,” said Dr. Jim Weisman, assistant dean for student services, and a long-standing committee member. “It is a team effort and as such it allows our entire community to see a group of people working to improve the day-to-day environment.  A great byproduct of our college’s work in this area is that it reaches outside of our walls and extends to the veterinary profession of Indiana in general.  We know our work is only at the early stages, but with anything, the most important step is the action of taking that first step which we have done.”

Craig adds that this spring her office is looking forward to hosting the second cohort for Vet Up! — a six-week residential summer program housed in the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The program is designed to prepare students from underserved communities and career interests for competitive entry into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) pool. Program participants experience the life of a DVM student, receive mentorship from PVM faculty, staff, and students, and gain hands-on animal experience and exposure to veterinary careers.

The Vet Up! program received the Insight into Diversity-Inspiring Programs in STEM award in September 2019 and is funded by a $3.18 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.





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