UT Dallas has become a charter member of an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) initiative to transform colleges and universities into more diverse, equitable and inclusive campuses.
STEMM Equity Achievement (SEA) Change helps institutions identify policies, processes, programs and practices that perpetuate exclusion and create systemic barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion through a voluntary self-assessment process. STEMM includes science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.
“A diversity of people, ideas and perspectives is crucial to UT Dallas’ vision and mission,” said UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson. “Being a charter member of SEA Change complements our work to make UT Dallas a better, more equitable and inclusive place for all to work, live and learn.”
Joining SEA Change demonstrates the University’s commitment to addressing the root causes of inequities, said Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Creating greater diversity, equity and inclusion goes into the way we teach and research, the way we recruit and the way we create programs and initiatives,” Pearson said. “It has to be baked into the fabric of who we are as an institution in order to have successful outcomes on the other end and to not continue to perpetuate the societal inequities that we see as a result of inequities in STEMM.”
Through SEA Change, universities develop individual action plans. The AAAS recognizes sustainable systemic change with bronze, silver and gold awards.
–Kim Horner
