# Strategic Priorities Many of these initiatives came out of discussions at the [\#ShutDownSTEM](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/for-a-day-harvard-science-shuts-down-to-strike4blacklives/) meeting on June 10, 2020 **Strategic Priorities for FY21** Presented at a department-wide Equity and Inclusion Committee meeting on July 10, 2020 **1**. **Engage and Connect Black Undergraduate and Graduate Students** *Point person – Benita Wolff* - Enhance understanding about the needs and concerns of Black students - Implement strategies and/or programs to address concerns - Build community and create spaces to support Black students **2.** **Assess and Enhance Undergraduate & Graduate Programs** Undergraduate Programs *Point persons - Howard Georgi and David Morin* - Preparatory education, course sequencing \[Emerging Scholars (Math), Interphase (MIT)\] - Workshops Graduate Programs *Point persons - Mara Prentiss and Jacob Barandes* - Preparatory education, workshops, and course sequencing (e.g., BRIDGE) - Recruiting & Admissions (at national meetings, elimination of GRE) - Financial Resources & Support **3. Mentoring & Faculty Engagement** - Needs of undergraduate students - Needs of graduate students - Needs of research scholars - Faculty advising of first year students - Input from wide range of individuals: faculty, students, etc. **4. Culture, Climate, and Professional Development** *Point persons- Lene Hau, John Huth & the EIC* - Implement incentives for anti-racism efforts - Practice allyship by hosting faculty reading group suggested authors including Ijeoma Oluo, Ibram X. Kendi, Angela Davis, and others - Address the origins and naming of the Physics building - Host bystander training - Partner with colloquia chairs on programming – for a variety of topics including anti-prejudice training, careers in Physics, neuroscience research addressing bias relaying to URM/gender etc. - Sustain this conversation and serve as a forum for advancing concerns **5. Communication** *Point person - Anne Trubia* EIC Website Refresh - Anonymous Feedback portal - "Feedback Forum" on EIC Website - EIC meetings open to the entire community (see website for details) - List of campus resources for all members of the Department Faculty and Departmental Websites - Improving information about areas of research, employment (including research) opportunities - Email Us: - Tim Kaxiras and Anne Trubia will be hosting biweekly office hours beginning August 17, 2020 on Mondays from 3-4:00PM - *Contact Jolanta Davis at if you do not have the Zoom link or would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Anne or Tim.* [Slides from Equity & Inclusion meeting - July 7, 2020](/file_url/125) [### Looking Back & Moving Forward ](/) [### History ](/history) [### \#ShutDownStem ](/shutdownstem) [### Strategic Priorities ](/strategicpriorities) [### Communication from the Department of Physics ](/emails) [### Get Involved ](/getinvolved) [### APS IDEA Representatives ](/reps)