St. Olaf College Board of Regents
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Committee Charter
Mission
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee provides counsel and advice regarding the diversity of the St. Olaf community and the equity and inclusiveness of the experiences and outcomes that the College enables for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Board of Regents. The committee supports the college in fostering a just and inclusive community such that all members of the community belong and thrive.
The committee helps to assure that St. Olaf:
- Attracts and retains a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff, and Regents
- Fosters diversity of thought and experience in all its programming and activities
- Creates equitable experiences and outcomes for all members of the community (especially underrepresented or underserved groups)
- Cultivates inclusive community at all levels of the College, embracing differences in race; religious belief, practice, and worldviews; gender identity and expression; ability; political perspective; economic background; and other aspects of identity and circumstance
- Develops commitments and skills for anti-racism, interfaith engagement, and other characteristics of inclusive community
Roles and Responsibilities
This committee advises the Board and college leadership on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in order to promote:
- Accountability for the quality and outcomes of all DEI efforts by identifying and regularly reviewing relevant metrics
- Responsiveness and transparency throughout the St. Olaf community through both thoughtful listening and regular information-sharing
- Resourcing that is aligned with DEI priorities, especially in relation to experiences and outcomes for the broader community that includes underrepresented groups
- Development for the St Olaf leadership and support for the broader community
The committee informs, and makes recommendations to, the Board concerning topics within the scope of its mission.
Composition
The committee shall consist of at least five members, including its ex officio members. The chair of the Board of Regents and the President of the College shall be ex officio voting members of the committee. The committee shall be led by co-chairs, of which at least one will be a member of an underrepresented group. The committee co-chairs, and at least one other member of the committee, shall be Regents appointed by the Chair of the Board of Regents. The committee may include one or more non-Regent members appointed by the Chair of the Board of Regents, so long as a majority of the committee members are Regents.
The committee aims to maintain a diverse and inclusive team that approaches leadership through co-creation with underrepresented groups and the broader community.
The Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and the Vice President for Mission shall serve as non-voting staff liaisons to the committee.
Meetings and Reporting
The committee normally shall meet at least three times per year, at such times and places as the committee shall determine. Members may participate in any meeting of the committee by means of any form of remote communication that enables persons not physically present in the same location to communicate with each other on a substantially simultaneous basis. A quorum of any meeting of the committee shall consist of majority of its appointed members for the purpose of taking any action other than adjourning the meeting. If a quorum of committee members is not present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting.
The committee co-chairs, in collaboration with the staff liaison, shall establish the agendas for meetings. The staff liaison shall provide the agenda and any other relevant materials to committee members in advance of each meeting. The committee shall maintain minutes of all its actions and communicate them promptly to the full Board of Regents.
Charter Review
This charter shall be reviewed regularly by the committee, and any proposed changes shall be submitted to the Nominating and Governance Committee for review and approval. The Nominating and Governance Committee shall refer significant changes to the full Board of Regents for review and approval.