Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Dear Golden Eagles,

Welcome back! Another academic year is underway, and both the Brockport and downtown Rochester campuses are buzzing with great energy. The summer has been a busy one for the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We updated our mission and vision statements, reviewed our slate of programs and trainings, and strategized how to continue the important work of equity, diversity, and inclusion. While we continue to navigate a changing landscape, I’d like to share with you some key policy updates as well as some of what to expect from our office this semester.

Title VI: Civil Rights Act of 1964

Last year, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights provided new guidelines to colleges and universities on how to respond to and address acts of discrimination due to race, color, national origin, shared history, and ethnic characteristics. Since then, SUNY has provided two additional requirements related to the OCR’s guidelines.

First, in April of this year SUNY passed a resolution requiring all state operated campuses to appoint a Title VI Coordinator to respond to and address acts of discrimination based on race, color, and national origin. Additionally, institutions were required to provide Title VI training for all faculty and staff. Since that time, NY State Law S4559-B/A544-B was passed – which made those guidelines law. While I currently serve as the Title VI Coordinator, a Title VI Investigator has been appointed to lead this work. This position is a joint effort between Human Resources and this office.

Mandatory Title VI training for all employees will continue to be offered through BizLibrary. SUNY created an online Title VI training for students that is accessible in Brightspace. While all students are encouraged to complete the training, it is required for all student leaders.

This 16-minute asynchronous training, will cover:

• Background and purpose of Title VI
• Why Title VI applies to SUNY
• Types of discrimination prohibited under this law
• Identifying discrimination on campus and when/how to report incidents of discrimination
• Provide practical examples of how discrimination may come up on campus

Completing this training aligns with our values of excellence, community, inclusion, transformation, engagement and upholding our Better Community Statement. I thank you in advance, for completing the training.

Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Space 

Last fall, SUNY Brockport through the OEDI was awarded a SUNY Interfaith/Meditation Space Mini-Grant that was intended to “develop and/or enhance space that serves as an interfaith prayer, meditation, and reflection room for students and employees to use on campus”. I’m happy to share the following updates:

The Interfaith Council was established in the spring semester, and it is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. The council will:

• Advise the CDO on best practices in supporting students, faculty, and staff in observing their faith tradition at a public university.
• Help foster a sense of belonging based on one’s religious affiliation.
• Engage community in interfaith dialogue…
  • Plan opportunities for collaboration on events, intersectionality
• Connect members of the SUNY Brockport community to local communities of faith.
• Support those exploring/questioning their faith. 
• Advise CDO in the development of new interfaith prayer and meditation space.

If you are interested in serving on the Interfaith Council, please email oedi@brockprt.edu.

In addition, a second, larger location for the interfaith prayer and meditation room has been secured and renovated over the summer. The new location is Cooper Hall room M9, located on the mezzanine (2^nd floor). We’re making final touches to get the room ready for use, over the next couple of weeks. Additional information to follow.

NOTE: The interfaith prayer room in the Seymour Union is still open to use. Both interfaith prayer/meditation rooms are shared community spaces, open to all students, faculty, and staff.

Campus Climate Survey

SUNY Brockport has committed to assessing our campus climate every three years. This fall semester marks three years since we disseminated the last campus climate survey in 2022. SUNY has contracted with Insight into Academia to administer the Viewfinder climate survey. The survey will open in mid-October and close the first week of November. More information about the survey will be shared over the next few weeks.

Upcoming OEDI Events:

• Community Conversations:
  • September 23, 2025, 3:00-4:30pm
• Open Forum with the CDO
  • September 29, 2025, 3:00-4:00pm
• 10th Annual Multicultural Mixer
  • October 1, 2025, 3:00-5:00pm
• Brown Bag Lunch and Learn Series:
  • October 10, 2025, 12:20-1:10pm
• Safe Zone Training:
  • October 22, 2025, 3:00-5:00pm

SAVE THE DATE:

24^th Annual Diversity Conference:
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in our New Imagination
Thursday, March 5, 2026

Want to be a part of the planning committee? Please contact Charlotte Wade, assistant director, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Finally, my annual message about observing religious holidays and accommodations is forthcoming.

All the best this year, 
Dr. Damita A. Davis
Chief Diversity Officer