EDI Taskforce

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Taskforce was established in September 2015 to conduct a root-and-branch review of EDI issues at the School, to generate policy proposals, and to initiate changes around the institutional architecture and campus culture in order to maximise equity, diversity and inclusion across the School.

The Taskforce provides leadership and an additional resource in establishing EDI as a firm component of the School’s strategic plan. The Taskforce also supervises the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The Taskforce sponsors multiple opportunities for students and staff to share their input and experiences. It provides regular status updates to the campus community about its activities and an annual report to the Director.

The Taskforce pursues five main objectives:

1. Student diversity and inclusive education – to reduce student diversity imbalances and increase student services for students of underrepresented groups
2. Staff diversity – to reduce academic and professional staff diversity imbalances in recruitment and promotion
3. Inclusion – to foster an inclusive campus culture and inclusive services
4. Communication – to improve EDI communication and data management throughout the School
5. Embedding EDI – to institutionalise EDI as an effective central service centre and to embed EDI in School structures and governance.

Composition

The Taskforce comprises a Steering Committee and four theme-oriented Working Groups on ‘student diversity and support’, ‘inclusion policies’, ‘academics and awareness’ and ‘professional and service staff diversity’. The membership will be announced soon. The working groups will make recommendations to the Steering Committee.

Taskforce Chair

The Taskforce is chaired by Professor Carola Frege, who is a member of the Director’s management team and reports directly to the Director.

Executive Officer

Joy Whyte

Taskforce Steering Committee

Terms of reference:

• Provide oversight and coordination for the Taskforce and its working group.
• Develop strategies and action plans and recommend these to the Director, Provost, Council and appropriate decision-making bodies.
• Actively solicit student and staff input and other information to inform the Taskforce’s work around the student and staff experience of campus climate, diversity and equity.
• Report regularly to the campus community at meetings, through a website and through other forms.

Membership

• Dr Kirsten Ainley (Assistant Professor, International Relations)
• Professor Tim Allen (Professor, International Development)
• Professor Chrisanthi Avgerou (Professor, Information Systems)
• Professor Oriana Bandiera (Professor, Economics)
• Ms Catherine Baldwin (Director of Recruitment and Admissions, ARD)   
• Professor Erik Eyster (Professor, Economics) 
• Professor Marc David Baer (Professor, International History)
• Professor Nick Couldry (Professor, Media and Communications)
• Ms Louise Handley (Human Resources)
• Professor Nicola Lacey (Professor, Law, Gender Institute, Social Policy)
• Professor Alan Manning (Professor, Economics)
• Ms Riham Mansour (Community and Welfare Officer, LSE Students' Union)
• Professor Anne Phillips (Professor, Government, Gender Institute)
• Dr Coretta Phillips (Associate Professor, Social Policy)
• Ms Busayo Twins (General Secretary, Students' Union)
• Dr Andrew Young (Chief Operating Officer)

Student Diversity and Support working group agenda

• Develop policy proposals on how student services could address a wider spectrum of diversity and inclusion issues and thus provide a larger set and more effective services to students of underrepresented groups centrally and in departments (e.g. bullying, sexual harassment, LGBT, disability, religion, BME, psychological support, women issues etc.). Also:
  • Improve website access for 24-hour emergency information and help 
  • Online reporting (whistleblowing etc.)
• Discuss ways how such a service centre could also be used by staff members
• Enhance efforts to help students of underrepresented groups in their academic advancement
• Revise student buddy schemes and student mentors (with emphasis on minority students)
• Develop proposals to make our degrees, courses, curriculum and general LSE events more inclusive
• Propose ways to increase the number of faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows whose research and teaching address issues of EDI
• Propose ways to increase access and understanding to LSE policies and procedures, and to make recommendations concerning the transparency and accessibility of data
• Propose initiatives to enhance an inclusive and open-minded campus culture

Membership

• Chair: Professor Carola Frege (Chair, EDI Taskforce)
• Mr Imara Ajani Rolston (PhD researcher, Psychological and Behavioural Science)
• Dr Suki Ali (Associate Professor, Sociology)
• Professor Tim Allen (Professor, International Development)
• Ms Catherine Baldwin (Director of Recruitment and Admissions, ARD)
• Ms Jasmina Bide (Education Office, LSE Students' Union)
• Ms Viki Chinn (Careers Advisor to disabled students)
• Ms Sarah Foss (Anti-racism Officer, LSE Students' Union
• Dr Alex Free (Research and Communications Officer, EDI)
• Dr Sumi Madhok (Associate Professor, Gender Institute)
• Ms Dhibla Mahamud (BME Students' Officer, LSE Students' Union)
• Ms Riham Mansour (Community and Welfare Officer, LSE Students' Union)
• Dr Bingchun Meng (Women's Advisor)
• Mr Celestin Okoroji (PhD researcher, Psychological and Behavioural Science)
• Mr Adam Sandelson (Head of Student Wellbeing, ARD)
• Dr Jim Walters (Interfaith Advisor)
• Ms Kirsty Wadsley (Head of Widening Participation, ARD)

Inclusion Policies working group agenda

• Implement procedural arrangements that support the new School-wide ‘Anti-harassment and anti-bullying policy’ that was recommended by the Ethics Policy Committee. For example:
  • Taking immediate steps to improve the signposting to online policies and procedures, for both students and staff
  • With respect to students in particular, to review the arrangements for reporting and taking forward incidences of harassment and bullying and to make recommendations for improvement. For example: introducing an online reporting form; issuing clearer and more streamlined guidance notes online; improving the timescales for considering complaints; resourcing the management of those complaints effectively; and providing greater transparency regarding the data that emerges
  • Collecting and analysing data on staff-related harassment and bullying; making recommendations as to whether staff should also have access to any online reporting mechanism; advising on any resourcing and procedural implications
• Consult widely regarding the proposed introduction of a “zero tolerance policy” for students and staff regarding bullying and harassment
• Develop policies for staff that address issues relating to diversity, e.g. in relation to religious observance, LGBTQ staff and disabled staff
• Improve the access to, and understanding of, LSE policies and procedures, and to make recommendations concerning the transparency and accessibility of data
• Recommend ways to foster an inclusive and open-minded institutional culture

Membership

• Chair: Ms Joy Whyte (Executive Officer, EDI Taskforce)
• Ms Hannah Bannister (Head of Student Services, ARD)
• Dr Nicole Boyce (LSE Power representative)
• Professor Christine Chinkin (Centre for Women, Peace and Security)
• Ms Isobel Clare (LSESU Disabled Students’ Officer)
• Ms Sophia Douglas (Unison and Unite representative)
• Mr James Deeley/Ms Hayley Reed (Spectrum network representatives)
• Dr Sara Geneletti (Gender Equality Forum and UCU representative)
• Mr Kevin Haynes (Head of LSE Legal Team)
• Mr Lisa Morrow (Senior Human Resources partner)
• Ms Debra Ogden (Warden of Bankside Hall)
• Dr Tara Reich (Assistant Professor, Department of Management)
• Ms Lena Schofield (LSESU Women’s Officer)
• Professor Wendy Sigle (Gender Institute)
• Ms Marlene Worrell (EMBRACE representative)