May 10, 2022
As an acknowledgment of the role of racial and ethnic discrimination as barriers to access in higher education and verbal commitments to address generations-long inequalities have increased, The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) has sought to support diversity officers' role in facilitating programs and instituting policies to take action on these commitments.
NADOHE commends Harvard’s $100 million commitment to addressing its history of enslaving African and Native Americans by expanding educational opportunities, memorializing those they enslaved, and partnering with HBCUs and the communities of those affected. Likewise, the University of California's recent decision to waive tuition for members of federally recognized tribes centers the financial resources needed to ensure access to education is possible for those who have long been denied it.
We applaud the dedicated work of students, faculty, and staff that have led to these decisions, acknowledging that EDI work can only be successful if it is adopted throughout institutions.
There is more work to be done to address the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and discrimination in collaboration. These decisions are steps in the right direction to furthering equity in higher education by addressing systemic sources of inequalities.
Our hope is that these initiatives will encourage further action and meaningful engagement with the policies and the necessary funding support for Indigenous and Black people.
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The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) is the preeminent voice for chief diversity officers. As the leader of the national conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion, it investigates, influences, and innovates to transform higher education so that inclusive excellence lives at its core.