#  Goals & Theory of Action 

 



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The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) holds central the value that all members of our community are treated with respect and are provided equal opportunities for success in our educational and work environments.

While chemistry is a natural science, it is first and foremost a human endeavor that is sustained by free inquiry and creativity. A sense of shared experience and common purpose informs every aspect of our scholarship. Consequently, we seek to promote each other’s well-being and self-fulfillment: we cannot honor our mission without ensuring an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination. We reinforce the goals toward that end expressed by FAS. We accept our role in promoting equity in academia and the broader culture in which our chemists work and live. We seek extend to each member of our community the support, respect, and resources they need to realize their highest ambitions.

Acknowledging that a broad representation of distinguished scholars provides the best foundation for excellence, the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology affirms its commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment. We support equity of access to opportunity and achievement for all members of our community regardless of race, nationality, religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and disability status.

## The Department has set the following goals for itself:

- Welcoming all people across categories of culture, socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, and life experience.
- Elevating the visibility and voice of those coming from historically underrepresented identities, backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs.
- Ensuring that the academic experience reflects the complexity and diversity of future workplaces.
- Enhancing systems of communication between students and administrators in instances in which these efforts break down and threaten the strength of our community.

## Our Theory of Action:

Achieving community inclusion requires deliberate attention and effort, not merely the absence of intentional discrimination or ill will. At CCB, we believe that sustainable change is possible. Research shows that one-off programs such as stand-alone diversity training are not enough. To gain the benefit of a vibrant community, CCB must fully integrate all members of our community into academic, professional, and social contexts that support their individual flourishing and activate their potential. Excellence requires successful practices of inclusion at all levels, from the interpersonal to the organizational. We need a model of change to move us from where we are today to where we want to be in the future.

Therefore, we have developed a strategy to generate positive impact for our students, our organization, our communities, and our stakeholders by building the Department's institutional capacity to support its goals into the future. To engage our stakeholders—students, faculty, staff, and alumni— we need to frame the issues, demonstrate new behaviors, and leverage momentum to change the norms and structures of our own organization.

Our Theory of Action seeks to build a movement within our organization with an institutional approach to change by utilizing our Community Committee to engage stakeholders and increase inclusion. By motivating change through engaging people within the organization, the Community Committee can identify concerns, develop policies, and build momentum in order to achieve sustainable change. Our approach is built on the following iterative process:

- **Identify Challenges and Gather Data**. We must first detect challenges and solicit data from the community in order to identify how the issues play out within our department. Then, we must frame the issues in order to inspire common action with our key stakeholders.
- **Frame Solutions and Build Consensus**: Once we frame the issues, we will work with key stakeholders to identify targets of change and to develop a consensus around evidence-based recommendations. Involving key actors in our efforts will greatly increase the likelihood of success. We will identify opportunities to pilot changes.
- **Implement Changes and Evaluate**: We will evaluate our results to take away key measures of progress to share widely with the organization in order to move positive momentum forward. To move from our pilots to broader change, we will harness the power of existing networks—within FAS and Harvard University, across our students and alumni, and within society—to share in the common purpose of creating more inclusion and sense of belonging in our organizations and communities.