Increase Diversity of FSU Student Body, Faculty, and Staff

Metric Chart: Percent of Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minority. 2023 Goal: 10% Increase for students and 30% increase for faculty. Fall 2018 baseline: 34.0% for students and 11.8% for faculty. Fall 2019 progress: 34.7% for students and 12.6% for faculty. Fall 2020 progress: 35.6% for students and 12.8% for faculty. Fall 2021 progress: 36.6% for students and 13.2% for faculty. Fall 2023 goal: 37.4% for students and 15.4% for faculty.

Tactics

Recruit and retain underrepresented students

FSU will build on its long-term success in recruiting, retaining and graduating a student population that better represents the population of the State of Florida with specific attention to underrepresented populations.

Strategically address the hiring and retention of diverse faculty and staff

The university is expanding its efforts to increase the percentage of faculty and staff in underrepresented groups and to provide programming to improve their leadership, engagement and promotional opportunities.

Foster a campus culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion

The university seeks to go beyond simply having more diverse populations by improving curricular and co-curricular engagement around diversity and inclusion and by leveraging media to celebrate campus and community inclusion efforts.

Activities and Accomplishments

• President Thrasher convened a President’s Task Force on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in August 2020. The task force, appointed for a year, is charged with developing/recommending initiatives that will advance the university’s commitment to address concerns of systemic and institutional racism. The areas of focus are Recruitment and Retention of Faculty Staff and Students, Campus Climate, and University Naming and Buildings.
• For the seventh year in a row, FSU was awarded the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Additionally, FSU was designated as a Diversity Champion for the fifth year in a row. Diversity Champion status recognizes institutions that exceed everyday expectations by developing successful strategies and programs that serve as models of excellence.
• DeOnte Brown was named director of the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). CARE is nationally recognized for their success in the retention and success of first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students who have been disadvantaged through economic or educational circumstances. The most recent cohort of 400 students had a six-year graduation rate that exceeded the rate of the rest of the university.
• The number of students enrolled at FSU in Fall of 2020 that come from underrepresented racial/ethnic minority backgrounds increased by 5.9% compared to last Fall term.
• FSU’s Diversity and Inclusion in Research and Teaching Organization (DIRECTO) held its third annual symposium in September 2020 with a goal to create a venue for individuals and groups within the FSU and local academic community to discuss issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and equity. The symposium was held virtually in response to Covid-19 modifications but was very well attended.