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The Hartt Commitment

To Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

This statement is a living and dynamic commitment toward our growth as an oppression-free community of artists and scholars. We acknowledge that the performing arts community, including Hartt, must do more to support marginalized voices in our community. We dedicate ourselves to work tirelessly and holistically to ensure impactful change.

Vision

The Hartt School stands against inequity, discrimination, oppressive behavior, and systemic racism. We recognize there are different ways people can be marginalized and those ways can and do change over time. Knowing marginalized groups have different needs for acknowledgement, support, equity, and autonomy—individually and intersectionally—we are committed to the following goals and steps to make a difference.

Goals

  • Equitably diversify the Hartt student body, faculty, and staff

  • Provide intentional opportunities to celebrate and promote diversity through all we do

  • Make Hartt a safe space, accessible to all, where people feel welcome and valued

  • Deepen curricular and educational offerings to support diversity across all programs

  • Work strategically with the University of Hartford to cultivate and implement diversity initiatives, anti-racism training, and intentional community-building experiences

  • Enhance Hartt’s connections with the people and organizations in our greater community and beyond

Steps to Implement These Goals

  • Expand equity-minded teaching practices that meet students where they are

  • Expand current curricular practices to include different cultures and acknowledge the significant impacts of their art forms.

  • Hold town hall discussions with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community partners, and arts organizations on a regular basis throughout the academic year

  • Identify and remove barriers to facilitate entrance to The Hartt School at all levels, including the collegiate programs and the Hartt Community Division, by, for example, reviewing audition processes and practices, increasing scholarship programs, and expanding community partnerships

  • Modify the content of Hartt courses and offerings to highlight diversity in meaningful ways

  • Celebrate the lives and accomplishments of underrepresented creative and performing artists through lecture series, live performances, and workshops

  • Maintain performing arts-related reading and listening lists in the Allen Library that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and establish and support study/discussion groups comprised of Hartt students, faculty, and staff

  • Work with the Allen Library to build and augment collections that reflect and support diversified curricula and programming

  • Increase financial, health, and educational support to students, faculty, and staff with particular attention to marginalized and/or first-generation students and underrepresented faculty and staff

Hartt Commitment Committee Annual Report

Meetings of the Hartt Commitment Committee are open to all Hartt students, full-time and part-time faculty, and staff. The Committee meets throughout the academic year. Click here to view the Committee's AY2023-24 Annual Report.


 

Updated October 16, 2024