In an email sent out to the entire Hamilton community on Wednesday, Jan. 29, President David Wippman announced that over summer break Hamilton’s senior staff held a meeting to review and work towards improving the College’s efforts regarding diversity and inclusion. While they acknowledged the work that had been done in the past to improve on these fronts, especially regarding improved hiring processes, it was clear that there was a great deal of work still left to be done at all levels of the college’s administration. The discussion was moderated by Chief Diversity Officer/Vice-President and Dean of Students Terry Martinez and centered primarily around the ways in which the college can support their four primary goals relating to diversity at Hamilton. The goals included “increasing recruitment of historically underrepresented faculty, staff, and students,” “fostering an inclusive climate,” “increasing the retention of historically underrepresented faculty, staff, and students” and “developing a more culturally competent faculty, staff, and students.”

Each of the school’s vice-presidents then submitted plans for improving their divisions in terms of creating diversity and inclusion within them. Wippman went on to state that he was “encouraged by each division’s efforts and the progress made thus far.” He also noted that a website was in development to make accessible to everyone an up to date record of what was happening in each area on this project. The meeting was successful in developing some more specific courses of action such as an increase in training to help prevent implicit bias in the interviewing and admissions process, as well as in the classroom and in everyday life. It was also noted that the College will continue to work towards removing financial barriers so as to “ensure an equivalent educational experience for all students” and increase their focus on recruiting individuals from historically underrepresented communities as they state: “Enhanced outreach to targeted markets plays a key role in diversifying our pool.”

Wippman noted that the process of creating a more diverse and inclusive culture on Hamilton’s campus is one that will require consistent work and constant attention from the College’s administration. He concluded the email with an expression of gratitude to any and all staff, faculty, and students who contribute to “ensuring Hamilton is a community in which all members can achieve their full intellectual, social, and moral capacities.”