Coe Board of Trustees continues implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion resolution
Since its early years, Coe has been a college dedicated to offering an inclusive coeducational experience. Founders and members of the original board of trustees were early advocates of equal rights and education for all individuals. Last summer, the Coe College Board of Trustees continued that tradition by unanimously passing a resolution addressing diversity, equity and inclusion. Authored by Trustee Robert Darryl Banks ’72, the passing of the resolution was described as momentous by Life Trustee Bruce Spivey ’56. Coe College Board of Trustees Chair Ken Golder ’82 updated the Coe community with new developments following the January board meeting.
“We recognize an institution’s history, policies and practices require critical and honest self-reflection, and we are committed to taking action whenever possible to make Coe a more inclusive and equitable college. This work is among the highest priorities at Coe, and although we still have much more work ahead of us, I want students of the college to be informed of how the Board of Trustees is trying to address these important issues,” said Golder.
As part of the resolution, the board requires current and future trustees to participate in anti-bias training conducted through an outside professional facilitator. In January, the board amended the college’s bylaws to form a new board committee devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion. The committee will be chaired by Banks and will consist of several trustees, Interim President David Hayes ’93, members of Coe’s senior staff and three students.
Additional initiatives have included training for students, faculty and staff throughout the fall term to broaden their knowledge and sensitivity on diversity, equity and inclusion issues. These opportunities were organized by campus partners and Coe's newly restructured Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This office’s staff is dedicated to ensuring every student at Coe feels welcome and valued and to providing resources and learning opportunities to the Coe community. The college administration provided employees time during the workday to participate in these training sessions as well as anti-bias workshops through the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. Diversity, equity and inclusion training and workshops will be ongoing for faculty, staff and students.
“We anticipate future opportunities to continue our collective growth so that we can work to make the college more diverse and welcoming for all students, faculty and staff,” Golder said.
Coe’s long-standing commitment to provide an inclusive educational experience includes the Williston Jones Diversity Leadership Full-Tuition Scholarship. For nearly 15 years, the scholarship program has honored the legacy of Coe’s mission to champion for a diverse community, and funding has increased over the years to serve as many students as possible. Recently, scholarship resources have expanded to support underrepresented students in STEM fields including a multimillion-dollar-endowed David Mehaffy ’76 Scholarship. In addition, Trustee Walé Adeosun ’84 and Yvette Hill Adeosun ’84 have announced a seven-figure planned gift to the college. A portion of the gift will create a sizable scholarship fund to further diversify Coe’s student body as well as support students from sub-Saharan Africa and Adeosun’s home country Nigeria.
“On behalf of the entire Coe community, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the late David Mehaffy and to the Adeosun’s for these remarkable gifts. Their generosity will assist us in continuing our work on vitally important diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives,” Interim President David Hayes ’93 said.
Further efforts include diversifying the hiring process of faculty and staff, establishing a mechanism to evaluate the names of historical campus buildings and endowed chairs and continuing to collaborate with key student groups to address areas of concern. Working to address concerns raised by students, Coe has expanded scholarships, increased counseling services and made improvements to the Black Self-Educated Organization house.
“I recognize that true progress will not be the work of a few, but stem from the collective efforts of our entire college community. I encourage and invite you to join us on this journey, share your suggestions and reflections, and help us build a better Coe experience for each and every Kohawk. Together we can fully deliver on Coe’s mission to provide a liberal arts education within a safe, welcoming, diverse and inclusive campus for all members of this college,” Golder said.
Golder’s full update to the Coe community can be found on the Coe website.
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Coe College offers superb academics and exciting co-curricular activities in a thriving urban setting that promotes student growth and success. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a student-centered, highly supportive campus environment. Coe’s vibrant Cedar Rapids location provides an abundance of internships for students and career opportunities for graduates.