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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter |
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Thursday, January 29, 2026
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Dear Golden Eagles, Happy New Year and welcome back from the winter break! The team and I have been working hard preparing for the spring semester. For example, the campus climate committee has been analyzing data from the fall 2025 campus climate survey; and will start to share the findings across the university starting in February. In addition, the EDI strategic plan implementation team is actively working on the strategies for each of the plan’s three goals. I will provide updates on the progress of the plan as work continues. We also welcomed a new member to the OEDI team, Ms. Latrina Pinkard, ’05. Ms. Pinkard joined the OEDI in October 2025 from Rochester Regional Health and serves as the administrative assistant in office. Ms. Pinkard holds a Master of Science degree in strategic leadership from Roberts Weslyan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology in 2005 from SUNY Brockport. Spring 2026 Religious Holidays Although the spring semester has just begun, there are several religious holidays that begin in the next two to three weeks. The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion would like to remind our campus community about policy and practice for religious holiday observance. Faculty are asked to make appropriate accommodation for students’ observance needs by providing an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirement that is missed because of an absence due to a religious observance, provided the instructor has been notified no later than the end of the second week of classes for regular session classes or by an agreed upon deadline for non-standard classes. If a faculty member is unwilling or unable to make appropriate accommodation, the student should consult their academic dean. Students have certain rights to make up work missed due to observation of religious holidays. Please refer to Section 224-A of the New York State Education Law to learn more about this provision. Deans, department chairs, and program directors are asked to make every effort to avoid scheduling meetings or events at times that would exclude faculty who are observing a religious holiday from participation. Supervisors are asked to be supportive of staff members who request vacation or personal time to observe a religious holiday and to make every effort to avoid scheduling meetings or events at times that would exclude such staff members from participation. Please note: The following religious holidays that may require an accommodation, have begun or will begin within the coming days and weeks:
Please visit the OEDI website to view the calendar of religious holidays which lists additional observances, and major days of religious significance. Additional information on supporting those observing religious holidays and events/celebrations will be provided in a separate message.
Diversity Conference Call for Proposals The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion invites students, faculty, and staff to submit proposals for Brockport’s 24th Annual Diversity Conference. This year’s theme, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Our Current Landscape , explores how EDI efforts are evolving amid increased challenge and opposition. We welcome 45-to-75-minute proposals that engage current events, lived experiences, and evidence-based practices that build awareness, foster inclusion, and strengthen community. Student proposals must be co presented with a faculty or staff member. https://forms.brockport.edu/view.php?id=9554149
Upcoming OEDI Events
Spreading the Word: Dr. Douglas A. Feldman Award Faculty - Have you graded an excellent research paper engaged with LGBT experiences? Please encourage your students to apply to the Feldman LGBT paper award. The Deadline is February 15, 2026, via the University’s Scholarship portal (https://brockport.academicworks.com/).
This paper competition was established by Dr. Douglas A. Feldman to support the University’s Diversity mission and undergraduate scholarship. The paper will be selected based on relevance, importance of the topic, excellence in research methods and/or theory, and original writing. The award winner and the runner-up are usually announced at the annual Diversity Conference where they are presented with their $1,000 and $100 awards, respectively. For more information or questions, please contact Dr. Pilapa Carroll, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology at pesara@brockport.edu. Douglass Day Celebration Drake Memorial Library is again planning a Douglass Day Celebration on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 3:00-4:30 pm in Drake Kiefer Room. This year we will be transcribing materials from the Colored Conventions Project.If you can’t attend in person, you can also participate online. For more info see: https://douglassday.org/.
Upcoming Events: Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Thursday, February 26, 2026
Isreal-A Heart of Jewish Identity from Antiquity to Today
Annual Iftar Dinner-Ramadan
Please visit the MSA’s Instagram page @brockportmsa for more information about daily Iftar and prayer during Ramadan and general programs/events. |
| Dr. Damita A. Davis, Chief Diversity Officer |
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SUNY Brockport 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY |