Old Main Tower on NC Campus

Campus Communications on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Charting our course to a better North Central College for everyone

This page is an archive of official communications shared with the North Central College campus community regarding initiatives, protocols and practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion. As North Central develops into a safer, more enriching and welcoming environment for everyone, we offer a record of our progress to assure accountability.

These communications reflect collaborative efforts from all offices and departments of the College. They can come from the College president; from members of Cabinet, including the provost and vice president for academic affairs, the vice president for student affairs and athletics, and the chief diversity officer; the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force; as well as others.

For more information or questions regarding these communications, contact the Office of Communications at omc@noctrl.edu.

Schedule for North Central's 2022 Martin Luther King Celebration Week and Black History Month events

The theme for this year's Martin Luther King Celebration Week and Black History Month events will be "Keep Moving Forward." The 2022 keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Geneace Williams, diversity, equity and inclusion manager for the city of Naperville. Williams will speak at 12:05 p.m. on Monday, January 17, 2022 in Stevenson Hall at the Wentz Science Center. Read on for a full list of this year's events.

Rev. Dr. Geneace Williams

Event Details from Office of Multicultural Affairs

Like many others, the staff of the Office of Multicultural Affairs is relieved by yesterday’s verdict in the trial for the murder of George Floyd. However, we realize that while the individual who committed the act has been held accountable, racial justice has not been achieved and our work is not over. Black and Latinx people continue to be disproportionally the victims of violence and lethal force from law enforcement. Our office continues to stand in solidarity with victims of violence within marginalized communities. As a step toward continued dialogue and healing, our office will host a Fireside Chat this afternoon from 4-5 p.m., and an Artist Talk this evening from 7:30-8 p.m. The Artist Talk is co-sponsored by Cardinal Safe Zone and the Department of Art and Design. Please see below for more information and details on how to attend these events.

NCC Campus

A Message from the President

I’m writing to acknowledge the tremendous pain that so many members of our community are feeling as we continue to witness police-involved shootings that result in the deaths of people of color. Most recently, the deaths of Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright have led to anger, sadness and grief among all people committed to building a better and more just world, and especially among those in Black, Latinx and other communities of color.

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NC Pride Month

April is North Central College Pride Month! The Cardinal Safe Zone committee, in partnership with the student organization OUTreach and the Department of Art and Design, has planned a month of activities to coincide with Day of Silence on April 23. Day of Silence is a national day of action to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and harassment of LGBTQIA+ students. 

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AAPI Solidarity Month Keynote

This is to remind you that our AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Solidarity Week Keynote event, a conversation with Dr. Marie Lo, Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Portland State University, will be occurring TODAY from 12pm-1pm on Zoom. Dr. Lo will be joining us for conversation with Dr. Sohinee Roy, Associate Professor of English, on the topic of US anti-Asian exclusion polices and recent anti-Asian political rhetoric and how they are connected to the recent violence against the AAPI community. Details of the event and Dr. Lo’s bio are below.

AAPI Speaker Dr. Marie Lo

Important Message

In recent months we have all witnessed various senseless and tragic acts of violence and hate targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in our nation, especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent of these incidents were this week’s shootings in Atlanta that resulted in the tragic loss of many innocent lives.

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DEI Task Force Update from DEI Task Force Co-Chairs

On behalf of the members of the President’s Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we would like to wish you a belated Happy New Year, with hopes that you are having a smooth start to the semester. It was wonderful to see so many of you participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities, and we look forward to engaging with you for more events throughout the term, including the programming for Black History Month.

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Foundations of Inclusive Teaching

Learn about the research basis for inclusive teaching and the foundational inclusive practices you can develop in your own teaching with keynote speaker Dr. Chavella Pittman. At the end of this interactive keynote, you will have worked on and know what to do next to improve your inclusive teaching on January 19, 2021 on ZOOM from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

campus walkway

Schedule of Martin Luther King Celebration Week and Black History Month events announced

This year's Martin Luther King Celebration will expand to include MLK Vision Day and a wealth of Black History Month events, all with the theme “A Time to Break Silence”. This year's keynote speaker will be Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., a New York Times best-selling author & chair of Princeton’s Department of African American Studies. He will speak Wednesday, February 10 at 5 p.m.

Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr.

Reading Roundtable Series

Please join us on Friday, January 15 for a special session of CAFÉ's Reading Roundtable Series on diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitated by Dr. Megan Cole Paustian. Over winter break, we invite you to read Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents, which analyzes American racism through an analogy to India's caste system. The book has been called "an instant American classic" (Garner) and is distinguished in its "ability to appall and unsettle, to prompt flashes of indignation and moments of sorrow" (Appiah). Combining meticulous research and elegant writing, it promises to be a powerful read.

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Announcing MLK Vision Day 2021!

The MLK Week and Black History Month Committee encourages the campus community to SAVE THE DATE for the MLK Vision Day Teach-In Monday, January 18, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Old Main in winter

Anti-Hate Week

The Office of Multicultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Center for Social Impact, Office of Faith & Action, Dyson Wellness Center and Project Re-Connect, is excited to host Anti-Hate Week from October 26-30, 2020. Anti-Hate Week is a week-long campaign designed to educate and raise awareness about various forms of oppression and discrimination. For more information, contact us at mca@noctrl.edu, the Presence App https://noctrl.presence.io/events, and Instagram @ncc_oma. 

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DEI Forum - Student Research in the College's Archives

Many of you are aware that, beginning fall 2018, student researchers uncovered racist imagery in the North Central College Chronicle and yearbook archives. This discovery resulted in subsequent research projects and has contributed to our ongoing conversation about the role of race in the College's history, as well as the work we have before us today. The President's Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is charged to hold at least one community forum each semester, and I am happy to announce that several of those researchers will share their findings at the first forum of this academic year.

Old Main in the Fall

Campus Climate Survey

I wrote to you this summer about a recommendation from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force that we conduct a campus-wide climate survey. I appreciate the Task Force’s work and its recommendation, and I am pleased to announce that this initiative will soon move forward as part of our commitment to achieving our shared vision of building a more diverse and inclusive community.

Students walking on pathway

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Website Announcement

With the collaborative efforts of our DEI Task Force, students, faculty, and staff, and our leadership team, we are pleased to announce the launch of our completely redesigned and updated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts website.

DEI Homepage Screenshot

Important Message from the President and Provost

We are writing in the wake of the grand jury announcement regarding indictments in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in March in Louisville, Kentucky.

For all of us in the campus community—particularly our Black students, faculty, and staff––this is a very sad and difficult moment in time. We have organized two events to help us all as a community to share and support one another, in particular our Black students, faculty, and staff.

Brick path on campus

Welcome from the Office of Multicultural Affairs

 The Office of Multicultural Affairs is committed to continuing to be a source of support for our underrepresented students and a focal point for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion at North Central College.  We would like to share some news and upcoming events from our office with the campus community.

Office of Multicultural Affairs

Bias Incident Reporting Updates

It is essential for North Central College to provide a safe environment for all community members regardless of identity. Acts that are motivated by intolerance or bigotry have a profoundly negative impact on our campus. While the College adheres to and supports the principles of academic freedom and free speech, each member of the North Central College community also shares a common responsibility to maintain an environment free from bias and hate. To assist with these efforts, North Central College established the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) and the Bias Incident Reporting Form in 2016.

Student on pathway

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force Welcome Letter

Our work does not occur in isolation from the rest of the world. The past few months in particular have been characterized by acute pain and compounded fatigue for many members of our community. In our first Task Force meeting, we reflected on the events of the summer.  We have been disheartened by continuing high-profile incidents of anti-Black racism and the startlingly callous response by so many Americans (including some of our family members and friends).  Yet we are optimistic about the growth that we have witnessed and the energy that has emerged. We begin this academic year with a clear focus and a steadfast determination to assist North Central in realizing its mission.

Campus walkway in the fall

Message from the President, College Values

President Hammond sent a message to the campus community as a reminder of the College’s values, and how those values apply to our commitments to keep one another healthy and safe during this global health crisis, as well as to respect and affirm one another as our country grapples with the continuing effects of racism.

Old main tower on a sunny afternoon

Town Hall Live Stream Video Recording

President Hammond hosted a College Town Hall on Thursday, June 18, as one of the many steps the College will take regarding our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. President Hammond and a group of panelists addressed a number of questions, and shared more with the campus community regarding how the College will move forward by listening and learning from students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and using what is learned to take specific actions toward making North Central College a more inclusive institution.

Message from President Hammond

President Hammond sent a message to the campus community regarding the recent Naperville Police Department presence on campus.

old main on naperville campus

Message from President Hammond

President Hammond states that, consistent with the values at North Central College, Black lives matter, and outlines next steps in making greater change on this campus.

Black Lives Matter quote from President Hammond

Message from President Hammond

President Hammond comments on destruction in downtown Naperville after what started as a peaceful protest, and responds to calls from members of the campus community advocating for additional campus-based change in wake of recent racist events.

Old Main at Sunset

Message from the President and Provost

President Hammond and Provost Goke-Pariola reaffirm the College's commitment to equity, diversity, and support for all Black members of the North Central community.

North Central College Plaque outside Old Main

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at North Central

 

North Central College strives to grow in diversity, equity and inclusion through the work of our faculty and staff, the openness and honesty of our students, the support of our alumni, and the continuing commitment of the entire North Central community. Share our journey with us and discover how we are working to be the change and become a true college of destination.

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