The Inclusive Excellence Committee, formerly known as the Equity and Diversity Committee, is one of the college’s standing committees, and they have been working over the spring and summer to identify key priorities and objectives for the next academic year. They recently launched an updated website and plan to work with departmental committees across the college going forward.

With a mission to advance a culture of belonging, access, and shared responsibility across the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the committee advocates for all students, staff, and faculty across disciplines, identities, and lived experiences to ensure that they are welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive. 

Building off the Community Commitments in the UW-Madison strategic framework, work done in the 2025-26 academic year reviewing CALS climate survey results and undertaking planning with the assistance of the office of Strategic Consulting, the committee has identified three objectives for the coming academic year:

1. Supporting the development of plans and guidance that departments and college leaders can use to improve climate and inclusion efforts.This could include developing community support resources, and building accessible materials that promote equity and belonging across the college.

2. Leadership and advocacy are key responsibilities of the committee relative to reinforcing campus values of inclusion, belonging, and community support, particularly for marginalized students, staff, and faculty.

3. The committee will communicate climate findings, share stories that bring specificity to issues, and relay information between the Dean’s Office, diversity representatives, departments, and the broader CALS community. 

Read the white paper that informs these strategies.

The members of the Inclusive Excellence Committee advise college leaders on evidence-based practices and inclusive excellence in administration, teaching, research, extension and outreach.

The core objectives of the Inclusive Excellence committee include:

• Cultivating Belonging Through Psychological Safety & Trust: Promote a climate in which all members of the CALS community experience respect, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. 
• Advancing Access and Opportunity: Support recruitment, retention, and success of students, staff, and faculty from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Strengthening Institutional Practices: Review and recommend policies, programs, and practices that advance inclusive excellence across academic and extension missions.
• Promoting Accountability and Transparency: Partner with leadership to identify goals, assess progress, and communicate outcomes related to inclusive excellence efforts.
• Enhancing Education and Engagement: Foster learning opportunities, dialogue, and partnerships that build cultural competence and inclusive leadership across CALS.