CON Inclusion and Belonging Committee

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING
Inclusion and Belonging Committee	Policy: 1202 (3.3.2)
Faculty Policies - Administrative Committees	Originating Date: March 2022
Responsible Reviewing Agency: Executive Council Inclusion and Belonging Committee	Revised: September 2024 (changes) Revised: January 2026 administrative (changes)

Purpose

The purpose of the Inclusion and Belonging (IB) committee is to lead the College of Nursing (CON) faculty, staff, and students to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging in the education, practice/service, and research missions in accordance with the strategic plan.

Functions

• Provide consultation and guidance related to inclusion and belonging activities, events, and best practices that promote understanding of social determinants of health and lead to preparation of a nursing workforce that reflects the people and communities served in Nebraska and throughout the nation.
• Promote cultural competence and community engagement for students, faculty, and staff to foster health equity, social justice, and elimination of health disparities.
• Promote, organize, coordinate, and review inclusion and belonging efforts in the tripartite mission of the CON and University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) (education, research, practice/service).
• Assess, report, and advise on educational content and clinical opportunities with a focus on inclusion and belonging competencies.
• Collaborate with UNMC including but not limited to the Offices of Inclusion; Human Resources; Interprofessional Academy of Educators; Office of Community Engagement, McGoogan Library and other committees as it relates to the promotion and support of inclusion and belonging.
• Collaborate with Student Services in the recruitment of a diverse student population.
• Support and encourage a diverse faculty and staff.

Membership

Elected representatives from all five campuses and at least one staff and student representative.

• The committee will be co-chaired by one faculty and one staff member.
• The committee will elect co-chairs-elect (one faculty and one staff) by majority vote on opposite years. The co-chairs-elect will transition into the formal co-chair roles the following year to facilitate consistent leadership and process transitions.
• Time spent as co-chairs -elect and subsequent co-chairs shall total three years
• The Inclusion and Belonging Committee will consist of the following elected membership for two-year terms, staggered so that no more than 3 positions are open for election in a given year:
  • Kearney Division – At least one (1) faculty and one (1) staff member
  • Lincoln Division – At least one (1) faculty and one (1) staff member
  • Northern Division – At least one (1) faculty and one (1) staff member
  • Omaha Division – At least one (1) faculty and one (1) staff member
  • West Nebraska Division – At least one (1) faculty and one (1) staff member
  • One student from each division is appointed
  • CON Inclusion Officer (ex officio)

Processes

• Meets regularly during the academic year
• Reports to Executive Council
• Elect co-chairs in the spring on opposite years; the faculty co-chair will represent the committee on Faculty Coordinating Council. The staff co-chair will represent the committee on the General Staff Organization.
• Committee membership will be elected following the rules of the General Staff Organization (GSO) and General Faculty Organization (GFO) committees respectively.
• All elected members have equal voting privileges according to Rules of the GSO or GFO governance.
• Committee will participate in the implementation and evaluation of annual strategic goals related to inclusion and belonging and provide reports to CON leadership, GFO and GSO.