Watson College honored with diversity award
American Society for Engineering Education bestows Bronze-level Recognition
The American Society for Engineering Education has honored Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science for its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Watson College’s Bronze-level award from the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program is the highest level given in 2021 and puts it among the nation’s leaders in inclusive excellence.
The ASEE award is based on Watson’s commitment to establishing baseline support for groups underrepresented in engineering; quantifiably analyzing and assessing the College’s composition, policies, culture and climate related to all groups underrepresented in engineering; implementing programs and initiatives that strengthen the K-12 or community college pipeline to reduce significant barriers related to long-term growth; and developing an action plan focused on continuous improvement.
“I want to thank all of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends who support our efforts in diversity and inclusion,” said Watson College Dean Krishnaswami “Hari” Srihari. “Without their efforts, our college could not be making progress in this area — a strategic priority for Watson.”
Watson College was the first unit on campus with its own diversity office in 2014. Last year, the role of director of diversity programs and initiatives became the assistant dean of academic diversity and inclusive excellence, with an expanded mandate to oversee all academic programs related to fostering diversity and to ensure that Watson is offering support for its diverse student body, faculty and staff.
Srihari also pointed to recent initiatives such as the Diversifying Coding (D-Coding) Program, which started in fall 2020, and the Watson College Scholars Program, which will accept its first students in fall 2021, as signs that the college is dedicated to increasing opportunities for underrepresented populations.
“Although we have not reached our goals as yet, and some may say we have ‘a long way to go,’ to receive such a recognition is a true honor,” Srihari said.