CON Co-Chief Diversity Officers

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Position Descriptions

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING
Co-Chief Diversity Officers	Subsection: 3.2.9
Section 3.0 - Position Descriptions	Originating Date: February 2023
Responsible Reviewing Agency: Executive Council	Revised: April 2023 (changes)

General Position Description

The Co-Chief Diversity Officers provide leadership in assuring a culture of inclusive excellence within the College of Nursing and building and sustaining a learning and working environment with a focus on equity, social and educational determinants of health, and ensuring a healthy future for all Nebraskans and beyond. The Co-Chief Diversity Officers are appointed by the dean and is a member of the College of Nursing Executive Council. These diversity leadership roles are shared by a faculty member and a staff member, underscoring the College’s commitment to inclusivity. Both have responsibilities in support of the tripartite mission, in addition to the administrative component of these roles. The College of Nursing has adopted a broad definition of diversity, built upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s definition and expects all members of the college community to function with respect, humility, and dedication to eliminating health disparities and ensuring equity. While the Co-Chief Diversity Officers provide leadership for this work, the responsibility is shared throughout the college community because this is a core value of the College of Nursing.

Organizational Relationships

The Chief Diversity Officers report to the dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. This individual collaborates with members of the Executive Council, working closely with associate deans on the tripartite mission, with program directors, and with assistant deans on operationalizing initiatives on each campus and building upon the unique strengths and cultures on each campus. The Co-Chief Diversity Officers consult broadly with faculty, staff, and students, and are ex officio members of the dean’s Student Advisory Council and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Each participates in the regular work of their particular roles as a faculty or staff member, attend General Faculty Organization and General Staff Organization meetings and other meetings as appropriate, and work closely with faculty and staff members, addressing the unique needs and interests of each group within the College of Nursing.

Responsibilities of the Position

1. Collaborate with leaders and key stakeholders in the College of Nursing’s community of interest to develop a shared vision for justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the composition of the College’s faculty, staff, and student bodies, and fully embedded within the College’s tripartite mission.
2. Provide leadership for justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the College of Nursing.
3. Participates in strategic planning within the College of Nursing to advance College goals related to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to ensure that the College of Nursing mission and vision clearly include these aims.
4. Collaborate with DEI leaders throughout UNMC and at the NU system level to align College of Nursing DEI initiatives with those of the university.
5. Participate as ex officio members of the College of Nursing’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
6. Participate as ex officio members of the College of Nursing’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council.
7. Consults with College of Nursing search committees to recommend recruiting, onboarding, and retention practices that support building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff complement.
8. Consults with College of Nursing admissions and curriculum committees around best practices for recruiting, retaining, and graduating a diverse and inclusive student body.
9. Proactively reaches out to students, faculty, and staff to assess the climate of inclusivity and recommend new strategies as needed to foster an inclusive college culture.
10. Collaborate with others to evaluate College of Nursing policies and procedures to remove any structural barriers to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
11. Provide leadership in evaluating, updating, creating, and implementing College of Nursing policies, procedures, teaching and learning strategies, and research infrastructure to support inclusive excellence.

Required Qualifications

Baccalaureate or higher degree. If candidate is a nurse, eligibility for licensure in Nebraska.

Experience addressing opportunities related to diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

Effective communication skills.

Skilled at building consensus.

Ability to develop a shared vision.

Evidence of ability to be an effective change agent.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience within a College of Nursing strongly preferred.

Doctorate in nursing or a related field preferred for the faculty Co-Chair.