PURPOSE / SCOPE:
ICOM is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion that promotes and sustains an affirming educational environment where opportunities for collaboration and innovation can succeed for all of its members. We value and embrace the distinctive ethnicities, races, cultures, ages, abilities, sexual identities, and creeds that comprise the ICOM family. We are resolved to cultivating an academic environment and osteopathic physician workforce that is prepared to meet the diverse healthcare needs of all those living in our mission states and beyond.
POLICY:
ICOM does not discriminate in its recruitment and selection process for employees or students. We believe that diversity contributes to the richness of the College and enhances workplace and educational quality and satisfaction where we gain greater understanding from those whose experiences, beliefs, perspectives, talents, and contributions are different from our own. As such, ICOM supports and encourages a culture of open inquiry, inquisitiveness, and mutual respect where all employees and students are treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity.
Diversity Statement
ICOM recognizes, values, and affirms that diversity contributes richness to ICOM and enhances the quality of education, research, clinical care, and service. Students, faculty, staff, and administration are valued for their diversity. ICOM is committed to providing and nurturing an academic and employment environment in which students and employees are treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity.
It is the policy of ICOM that no student or employee will be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program sponsored by ICOM. In our resolve to always be attentive to our commitment to our diversity goals and principles, we will:
- promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment, admissions, hiring, retention, and advancement.
- provide focus upon diversity and inclusion in the development and revision of ICOM policies and procedures.
- regularly review diversity and inclusion efforts by developing, refining, and continually improving metrics to assess the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion initiatives for employees and students to ensure that the outcomes bring ICOM closer to reflecting the diversity found in our patients, community, and nation.
- strive to approach equity in recruitment and retention of racial, ethnic, and other populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population. This includes African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American students and employees.
- recognize and critically assess the fragilities and strengths of our actions and outcomes to actively promote social justice, challenge discrimination, and address disparity, inequity, and barriers to inclusion.
- acknowledge the diversity that each member of our community offers – including, but not limited to – race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background and circumstance, national origin, geographic background, ability and disability, physical characteristics, veteran status, political ideology, creed, and age.
- provide a safe environment where all members of our community can engage in dialogue, question, learn and contribute to their fullest potential.
- respect the dignity of all members of our community and aspire to ensure that all feel valued and supported.
- provide education and training that emphasize respect for differences in culture, language, and life experience and that address both health disparities and the role that implicit and explicit bias can play in decision making.
- support community engagement and partner with our local, national, and global communities to advance the diversity pipeline and eliminate health disparities.
- provide institutional resources to support these efforts in diversity, equity, and professional development of our employees and students
PRIMARY POLICY OWNER:
Associate Dean of Educational Development, Innovation, and Diversity
APPROVAL:
Effective: 9/2/21
Last Reviewed: 5/30/23
Review Requirement: 3 Years