DEI on Campus: Promising Practices

For the School of Business and Economics (SBE), identifying “Inclusive Excellence” as one of their most important strategic priorities, translates to a comprehensive set of initiatives and programs that focus on the successful recruitment, retention, and graduation of first generation and underrepresented students.

Included in this approach are two scholarship programs, the Wine Industry Scholarship Program (WISP), and the Wine Business Inclusive Excellence Program (WBIEP). WISP is focused on first-generation and low-income students whose families work in the wine industry, while WBIEP is aimed at recruiting and mentoring underrepresented students who are interested in pursuing wine business careers. WISP, established in 2016, has raised more than $2 million for scholarships, academic counseling, and co-curricular support, providing this support for as many as 1,000 students a year through SSU’s Center for Academic Access and Student Enrichment (CAASE). WBIEP has raised more than $800,000 since it was established in 2020 and provides for strategic recruiting; four-year scholarships; academic support, co-curricular and life-skills training; career mentoring and wine industry internships; and wine business-focused job placement. 

These programs are clearly designed from the perspective that it is not enough to admit students who may, for example, not come from a college-going family culture; instead, we must nurture college interest and readiness, actively support students inside and outside our classrooms, and support a smooth transition to post-graduation career placement.

In addition, SBE recognizes the importance of opportunities that support faculty and staff in the DEI arena, including training for recruitment committees, to enhance the probability of hiring diverse faculty and staff, and holding brave and difficult dialogues toward evolving the culture and practices of the SBE to promote a more inclusive, fair, and collaborative environment for everyone.