Dear Cabrini community,
As highlighted in the video, the University is taking long-overdue action toward being actively anti-racist and truly inclusive—action to implement real, systemic change and to address the disconnect between the experiences of Cabrini’s BIPOC and our institutional values.
Most immediately, we have provided unconscious bias and microaggression training, mandated to be taken by all faculty and staff prior to the start of the fall 2020 semester (August 31, 2020). Additionally, focused, year-round programming and training—for every department of the University, for every employee, and for all students—will be conducted throughout the academic year and beyond. More specifics regarding this ongoing initiative will be announced prior to the start of the fall semester.
Additionally, we are rolling out updates to Cabrini’s online anonymous reporting tool, EthicsPoint, to make it easier to submit incidents of racism and racial discrimination. Over the course of the coming weeks, the tool will be accessible as a Quick Link on the Cabrini portal, in addition to being available on cabrini.edu, and incidents of racial bias will have a designated category through which to submit. We are also reviewing and refining the review process to ensure every submission goes through an objective and impartial review. More specifics regarding this anonymous reporting tool and subsequent review of incidents of racial bias will be provided prior to the start of the fall semester.
We are working on many more actionable items on our path forward to systemic and permanent changes in Cabrini’s culture and environment. We are revising our processes for interaction and dialogue to ensure collaboration across the University—administration, faculty, staff, and students—and inclusion of diverse and marginalized voices. We are updating our policies and procedures, our Codes of Conduct for employees and students, to ensure not only an understanding of expected and appropriate behavior but also to hold ourselves accountable for the behavior and attitudes that do not meet our values.
As we collaborate with our various and diverse community groups on these initiatives, we will continue to update the entire Cabrini community on our progress—specifics surrounding the actions and timelines for implementation—toward our ultimate goal of true inclusivity and a Cabrini community in which diverse members feel safe, feel comfortable, and feel supported.
This work has only just begun, but I am committed to setting forth a path for our strong Cabrini community to live up to the ideals set before us by Mother Cabrini’s legacy—to honor the dignity of all people, to celebrate diversity. To Live with Purpose.
In the Cabrini spirit,
Donald B. Taylor
Cabrini President