Heartland creates Senior Leadership Position for Diversity & Inclusion
 

[June 12, 2020]  LINCOLN - Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille has named Terrance Bond as Assistant to the President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Bond, who serves as Associate Dean of Students, is reassigned to the new position, which continues work set forth by the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“Terrance has done outstanding work within the College and on the Task Force to continuously improve and enhance the success of our students,” said Heartland President Keith Cornille. “The first action that I have asked Terrance to address is the development of a mandatory Equity, Diversity and Inclusion training program for all employees. The trainings will be a combination of online and in-person workshops designed to enhance our understanding on the issue as well as discussing how, as a college, we will further our culture.”

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force was created last year by President Cornille. The group, which included representatives from within and outside the HCC community, engaged in an extensive review of the climate, policies, practices of the College.

At the May 19, 2020 District 540 Board of Trustees meeting, the Task Force presented the report, Integrating Diversity & Inclusion into the Heart of Heartland Community College. Within the report are three key strategies identified to advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) efforts at Heartland, focusing on development of an EDI Scorecard, implementation of identified initiatives, and establishment of an EDI Advisory Council. 

The group also recommended the creation of a senior leadership position to advise the President and facilitate strategies related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Assistant to the President position is a one year appointment that will be involved in Cabinet-level meetings.

“As we work through the implementation of the Task Force plan and determine the long term strategy of action with their recommendations, I felt it was important to act immediately to fill this leadership role,” said Cornille. “The values of Heartland Community College are strong, but they do not sustain without continued work and a commitment from us all. It is important to note that as we presently stand with our African American community, and all those who are seeking social justice, that it is not enough to simply disagree with acts of racism. We must exemplify an environment where hate, ignorance, and oppression cannot be sustained.”

[Steve Fast
Director, Public Information
Heartland Community College]