The UNC Board of Governors established the task force to examine the legacy of race and racism in North Carolina’s public higher education system, how that history shapes and impacts the experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and communities, and arrive at an actionable path forward that will build a culture of inclusion across our institutions.
Task force submits final report
On behalf of the Racial Equity Task Force, Chair Reginald Ronald Holley submitted the final report on December 16, 2020, to UNC Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey and UNC System President Peter Hans, and presented the full report to the UNC Board of Governors in January 2021.
Read and download the final report and brochure.
To view the November 10 Draft Recommendations and Survey Findings:
APCO Worldwide – UNC System Survey and Virtual Town Hall Findings Report
UNC System Racial Equity Task Force Draft Recommendations
Read the July 21, 2021 Racial Equity Initiative Update Report.
“Today is a step forward in our commitment to supporting racial equity across our System and an opportunity to ensure everyone has the resources they need to be successful at our institutions.”
Task Force Chair Reginald Ronald Holley
THE CHARGE TO THE TASK FORCE
- Meet with groups of students, faculty, and staff to discuss issues of race and equity in the UNC System and all tangible steps that can be taken across the UNC System in pursuit of equity and understanding.
- Gather, explore, and develop recommendations, suggestions, and feedback.
- Prepare a report to the Board of Governors, including a list of recommendations and action steps in priority order.
- Share the final report with the Chair of the Board of Governors and the UNC System President by December 16, 2020.
The Task Force held a meeting on December 4, 2020 to formally adopt the final recommendations and action steps.
This remote meeting was streamed live online so that simultaneous live audio and video of the meeting is available to the public at https://www.unctv.org/watch/live-stream/bog/.
As leaders in the University community, it is our obligation and responsibility to do the hard work needed to address inequities in the UNC System for the benefit of students, faculty, staff, and all North Carolinians.
Randy Ramsey, Chair of the UNC Board of Governors
Task Force Members
The UNC Board of Governors established the task force to examine the legacy of race and racism in North Carolina’s public higher education system, how that history shapes and impacts the experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and communities, and arrive at an actionable path forward that will build a culture of inclusion across our institutions.
Members of the Racial Equity Task Force are:
- Reginald Ronald Holley, UNC Board of Governors, Task Force Chair
- Kellie Hunt Blue, UNC Board of Governors, Task Force Vice Chair
- Anna Spangler Nelson, UNC Board of Governors, Task Force Vice Chair
- Pearl Burris-Floyd, UNC Board of Governors, Member
- Isaiah Green, UNC Board of Governors & President of the Association of Student Governments
- Dawn Brown, Access Coordinator, UNC Wilmington & Former Chair of Staff Assembly
- Garikai (Kai) Campbell, Provost, UNC Asheville
- David Green, Professor of Law, NC Central University & Former UNC System Faculty Assembly Chair
- Timothy Ives, Professor of Pharmacy, UNC-Chapel Hill, Faculty Assembly Chair
- Garrett Killian, Business and Technology Applications Specialist, East Carolina University & UNC System Staff Assembly Chair
- Ricardo Nazario-Colon, Chief Diversity Officer, Western Carolina University
- David Perry, Chief of Police, UNC-Chapel Hill
BUILDING A CULTURE OF INCLUSION
The Racial Equity Task Force recommendations will help to build a culture of inclusion and ensure a safe educational and working environment that provides all System constituencies with a sense of belonging. To reach this goal, the System must examine existing inequities, understand how these inequities negatively affect many of our students and employees, and prioritize equity in the pursuit of the goals outlined in the UNC System’s Strategic Plan. By fostering equity in our policies, programs, and practices, the UNC System will enhance economic and social mobility for all North Carolinians, particularly for those who have historically been underserved and underrepresented in the classroom and across our institutions.
LEARNING FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES
To effectively accomplish our goals, the Task Force’s work included the following components:
- Analyzing existing System, institutional, and national data to develop a baseline understanding of racial disparities and equity issues;
- Conducting an online survey to understand the perspectives of students, faculty, and staff;
- Hosting conversations or town halls with students, faculty, and staff to discuss issues of race and equity at their respective institutions, and in the communities in which they live and serve; and
- Preparing a report to the Chair of the Board of Governors and the UNC System President, to include a prioritized list of recommendations and action steps.
Campus Engagement Efforts
Task Force members engaged in discussions and listening sessions across the UNC System with students, faculty, and staff around three focus areas:
- Equity in the student academic experience. We’ll examine how to close equity gaps at every stage of the student experience, from recruitment through graduation.
- Equity-minded faculty, staff, and administrators. We’ll take a deep dive into human resources practices in the recruitment, hiring, and retention of employees.
- Safe and inclusive campuses and communities. Building a better world that’s equitable for all, starts on our campuses. We’ll work with students, faculty, and staff to foster and maintain safe and supportive campuses that promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
The UNC System Racial Equity Task Force developed an overall engagement strategy to hear from university community members and to gain a better understanding of race and equity within the System. The engagement strategy included conducting a Systemwide survey and a series of virtual town halls. In addition, the task force met with students, faculty, and staff representatives at their weekly work group sessions and hosted focus groups with faculty, staff, and student leaders and advocates.
From September 15-30, 2020, the UNC System conducted a survey that gathered the opinions and experiences on race and equity from students, faculty, and staff from across the 17 institutions. More than 16,000 students and employees responded to the survey. The survey responses were critical in shaping the discussion topics for the virtual listening sessions.
Institutional Resources
We learned through the campus engagement process that support for individuals who have experienced racial discrimination or injustice was greatly needed. As we move towards the finalization of the recommendations, we encourage students, faculty, and staff to take full advantage of the resources currently available at your respective institutions. If you need further assistance, please email us at racialequity@northcarolina.edu.
For UNC System Human Resources support, click on this link. For additional support, contact the Employee Assistance Program at 877-823-5715.