Systemic Resilience: COTA Meta-Strategy, 2021-2025
Systemic Resilience: COTA Meta-Strategy, 2021-2025

Implementation

Pillar I: Access, Equity, and Inclusion as Functional Catalysts

The College of the Arts is fundamentally committed to access, equity, and inclusion as functional, transformational catalysts. 

Implementation Highlights

YEAR 1  |  COMPLETED
  1. Establish a college AEI committee. COTA Faculty Council put forth a COTA Constitutional Amendment to formalize the COTA Access, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as a standing committee within the college. Full committee was established with elected members, and Prof. Trent D. Williams, Jr. was appointed as Director and Chair 2021-23. 
  2. Provide education and resources. People's Institute for Survival and Beyond appetizers held with School of Art and Art History; School of Music; Digital Worlds Institute; Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship; and Dean's Office. Workshop help with the School of Theatre + Dance. (Center for Arts in Medicine hosted a workshop in 2019-20.) COTA Dean’s Office hosted two Town Halls, and each unit hosted a series of AEI-focused events, speakers and various initiatives.
  3. Incorporate AEI strategies into core college functions. SOTD applied for and was accepted into the Allied with Broadway for Racial Justice program.
YEAR 2  |  COMPLETED 
  1. Provide education and resources. COTA Resources TEAM expanded with employee resources. Events hosted across units, including SOM Harmony Initiative (five events), Digital Worlds Virtual Events (National Public Lands Day, First Gen Day Celebration), and CAME (Entrepreneurship Event). People's Institute for Survival and Beyond workshops held with School of Art and Art History; School of Music; Digital Worlds Institute; Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship; and Dean's Office.
  2. Conduct AEI audit. COTA AEI Committee Chair integrated into COTA Executive Committee. CAM Equity Working Group re-convened and completed systems equity audit. 
  3. Incorporate AEI strategies into core college functions. SOTD released Statement on Color-Conscious Casting, and hosted two Town Halls advancing the Anti-Racism Action Plan implementation. SAAH revised scholarship awards process to offer need-based awards for the first time. Created and awarded five $1,000 Course Modification grants to faculty instructors in four college units. 
YEAR 3 | IN PROGRESS
  1. Conduct AEI audit. Use a power analysis and best practices in AEI and racial equity spheres to identify and document institutional practices that are barriers to a thriving pluralistic multi-cultural diversity. 
  2. Incorporate AEI strategies into core college functions. Examine and reposition Western, white, male privilege implicit in the foundations of the style, techniques, and methodologies of historical works and traditional performance and practice. Address cultural differences within the disciplines represented in COTA.
Year 4
  1. Incorporate AEI strategies into core college functions. Examine and reposition Western, white, male privilege implicit in the foundations of the style, techniques, and methodologies of historical works and traditional performance and practice. Address cultural differences within the disciplines represented in COTA.
Year 5
  1. Incorporate AEI strategies into core college functions. Examine and reposition Western, white, male privilege implicit in the foundations of the style, techniques, and methodologies of historical works and traditional performance and practice. Address cultural differences within the disciplines represented in COTA.