No action on new diversity action plan

An action plan intending to update the RUG’s diversity policy in April 2019 has not been released. University spokesperson Jorien Bakker says the plan will be ready in ‘a few weeks’.
By Jacob Thorburn

The reason behind the delay is not clear. Chief Diversity Officer Gerry Wakker said that the plan is ‘not ready yet because of time needed for other obligations.’ Bakker says the policy has not been delayed intentionally, it’s just late.

According to the RUG’s website, the current diversity policy is ‘directed mainly towards gender diversity.’ Despite expectations from the university council that a plan would be ready in April 2019, Bakker says there is no update available because ‘nothing has been written yet.’

The action plan was proposed during a university council meeting last November. In the briefing notes of the meeting, the summary page clearly states that ‘the current diversity policy is in need of a review.’ Any new policy will will be made with input from the different departments at the RUG.

Lustrum

Specifically, the new plan will raise awareness of the position of the Chief Diversity Officers within the university. The university also intends to expand the diversity policy’s scope beyond gender diversity. The new plan’s effect on the academic community is not yet clear, Bakker says.

Proposals for a fresh take on the diversity policy coincides with the theme of the RUG’s 405th lustrum celebration: ‘All inclusive’. When asked if the new policy would be ready by the lustrum event, Bakker responded: ‘of course!’

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