Page 17 - SCIE Ambassador Program Strategic Brief
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Recommendation: Increase Student & Faculty Diversity
               Ambassadors: Elena Fernandez, Rebaz Waise, Alexandra Hoffman, Stequita Hankton

               Facilitator: Kevin Harris, M.S.A., Interim Associate Vice President for Health Sciences and Assistant Vice
               President for Health Sciences

               Outline of the Recommendation

               To increase student and faculty diversity, SCIE Ambassadors recommend engaging the student
               population as partners in the earlier developmental stages of inititatives.  With regard to increasing
               student diversity, it is recommended that a recruitment plan be developed that includes making
               connections with minority serving institutions.  This plan should also reflect the VCU Health System’s
               patient population, including the metro Richmond area and not just the city of Richmond.

               It is recommended that in order to best recruit students from underrepresented backgrounds, existing
               health sciences students who have similar backgrounds should be part of the recruitment process.  This
               would allow for the development of meaningful connections that will not only facilitate recruitment but
               would aid in providing support to these students upon and throughout their enrollment.  Specific
               suggestions as to how to best achieve diverse student engagement includes targeting individuals once
               they declare pre‐health as their course of study, and ensuring that student applicants from
               underrepresented backgrounds have ample opportunity to meet with current students with similar
               backgrounds during interviews and visits.  These relationships should be fostered after their enrollment
               to create meaningful, long lasting connections with the university and other students.  Further, it is
               critical that student applicants from minority backgrounds and other underrepresented demographics
               have the opportunity to connect personally with school administrators to receive guidance and
               mentorship.  During the student application process, it is also critical to highlight the inclusion related
               research in which VCU faculty are engaged.
               One strategy for increasing faculty diversity is to include current students from minority backgrounds
               and other underrepresented demographics on search committees in all five health sciences schools.  Up
               to this point there have been very few known faculty recruitment and retention discussions that have
               involved students.  Another recommended strategy is to develop current students who have already
               expressed an interest in teaching.  By developing a mentorship program to nurture and guide these
               students, we create an internal pipeline to diversify VCU health sciences faculty.  SCIE Ambassadors
               suggest educating students about the costs and benefits of private practice versus a career in the
               academy as well.  It is also recommended that the university reach out to recent alumni from
               underrepresented backgrounds who may be interested in returning to VCU to give back.  During
               recruitment it will be important to demonstrate the university’s commitment to changing the
               composition of the faculty and student body so that it is more reflective of the patient population.
               Additionally, it is essential that the university make clear that these faculty members will receive the
               necessary resources to establish and cultivate relationships with students from diverse backgrounds.

               Who are the Strategic Partners?

               The partners needed for these recommendations includes each of the health sciences schools, from the
               Dean’s of these schools to the hiring committees within the departments and faculty.  Current students



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