The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is responsible for fostering an inclusive community by leveraging interactions between offices, educating the entire community and working to increase the diversity at all levels of the University. While the office coordinates university-wide, diversity-related programs and initiatives, many other departments, centers, offices, and organizations at Bentley contribute to improving the diversity climate through varied and persistent efforts.
Diversity is critical to Bentley University’s mission of educating creative, ethical, and socially responsible organizational leaders. Our institutional values are rooted in a belief that appreciating diversity means that we work in an environment that embraces diversity of opinion and that is free from hostility and intolerance.
Inclusive Excellence Dashboard
Bentley University is committed to Inclusive Excellence meaning that all members of the community can learn and develop in an environment that supports their sense of belonging without asking them to sacrifice their authenticity. Through this commitment we strive to create an environment that welcomes diversity in all its forms and supports the development of inclusive, just, and equitable spaces. This interactive dashboard provides both static and longitudinal data that captures both the demographic makeup of the community and other measures that represent other elements of Inclusive Excellence like climate, education, and institutional support. As Bentley works to implement both a strategic plan for Inclusive Excellence and Equity Goals we will continue to add to this dashboard. Review the dashboard below.
It is impossible to establish a single starting date for diversity efforts at Bentley People have been working for decades on issues, challenges and opportunities related to the mix of people that make up this institution. In 1993, Bentley created a formal “diversity initiative” to build on and coordinate the many diversity-related efforts already underway on campus. Since then, different structures, committees and approaches have been used to develop and implement strategies intended to improve the diversity climate on campus, yet the commitment has been continuous. Diversity work at Bentley has been concerned with:
- Developing our capacity as an institution to value and work with all significant differences, and
- Dealing intensely with particular dimensions of diversity including sex/gender, race, nationality/culture, sexual orientation/gender identity, disability, and religion.
One of the most visible elements of the diversity initiative has been the two-day off-site retreats to which all members of the faculty and staff are invited. Among the participants in the very first retreat in 1993 were the president, vice presidents, and deans. Bentley has sponsored more than 60 retreats since then, and approximately 900 faculty, staff and administrators have participated.
While the retreats have been an important component of Bentley’s efforts to become more inclusive and take fuller advantage of its diversity, they certainly have not been the only important activities. The diversity initiative has also included:
- Teams working on a wide variety of issues such as curriculum, faculty development, recruitment, retention and sexual orientation.
- Educational/developmental activities to help increase the capacity of all members of the Bentley community to deal more effectively with diversity.
- Support of offices and departments throughout Bentley as they have struggled with diversity-related challenges or sought to realize opportunities.
- Direct work with students in key roles such as resident assistants, orientation leaders, first year seminar facilitators and academic tutors.
Contact Information
Office of Diversity & Inclusion
Bentley University
LaCava 163
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452
781-891-3475