The Presidents Council of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Council has approved a strategic initiative on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice, beginning in 2021-22.  This initiative will formalize the efforts of the AMCC Anti-Racism & Social Justice Working Group as the lead-in pillar of the conference's next five year strategic plan.

 

The initiative will have seven points of emphasis which have been established as sub-committees of the working group:

 

Education:  Creating personal and professional development opportunities for both student-athletes and athletic department staff

Communication:  Examining the ways in which the conference and member institutions frame their messaging and promotions

Student-Athlete Welfare & Empowerment:   Actively seeking and encouraging student-athlete involvement to better serve their needs and interests

Recruiting & Retention:  Valuing the inclusion of both student-athletes and staff in creating, expanding and maintaining a diverse community

Community Service & Civic Engagement:  Making connections that are both transactional and transformational on multiple levels

Health & Safety:  Recognizing the importance of a multicultural approach in addressing both physical and mental health

Leadership & Management:  Identifying ways to promote and integrate DEI/SJ initiatives at the campus and conference levels.

"Now that the presidents and chancellors have put their stamp of approval on the efforts of the working group, the conference will be looking for engagement by our members' leaders--the ADs, SWAs, FARs--as their involvement in this initiative is critical," said AMCC Commissioner Donna Ledwin.  "Student-athlete participation in the process will also make a difference in whether or not this initiative has a lasting impact."

The scope of the initiative will be diverse and, at minimum, inclusive of race, gender and the LGBTQ community.

Ledwin acknowledged that this will be a multi-year effort.  "As was stated by a member of the Presidents' Council at their spring meeting, 'This is hard but important work.'  For the AMCC, the hard work begins today."