What Is the Campus/Community Task Force?
The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard the University of South Florida college campuses, forcing much of their operations into a virtual lockdown, with remote learning, budget cuts and the cancellation of traditional on-campus activities.
President Currall announced plans to increase in-person classes starting Summer 2021, with a full in-person course delivery in Fall 2021. USF is preparing to safely return to on-campus activities as well, with the guidance of public health officials.
As reported by, The Crow’s Nest, near the end of the announcement, Currall said the university’s “path forward” depends on the pandemic.
Chanelle James majoring in business at USF, says, “I am excited to get back on campus, even though many of my classmates have dropped out since the switch to remote learning.”
Despite the lack of diversity among faculty, the university is turning its focus towards inclusion and diversity among students. These steps include the financial investment in research projects that address the origin and consequences of systemic racism, an increase in diverse student outreach and strengthening relationships between USF St. Petersburg and the surrounding community.
Campus Diversity Officer Michelle Madden has been looking at the numbers of students by ethnicity for a while and is not happy about it. The numbers are not where university officials want them to be.
“I can’t say when I first saw the actual numbers that I was shocked because from walking on campus, you can see the lack of racial diversity,” Madden said.
St. Petersburg has a campus and community task force on diversity, inclusion and equity that includes the regional chancellor, the campus diversity officer, and the governor of the campus’ Student Government.
The purpose of the task force is to serve as a bridge between the St. Petersburg community and USF that will bring forward recommendations and priorities that have a lasting, positive impact on our campus and extended community of citizens in the areas of diversity, inclusion, and equity. The objective is to increase the representation of people of color at USF, St. Petersburg campus among staff, faculty, students, and business suppliers.
The Task Force was coordinated by Caryn Nesmith, Special Assistant to the Regional Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, in July 2020, to explore how the university could connect with other educational and community organizations to cooperatively address racial inequalities that exist in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.
“Diversity and Inclusion is not only lacking on USF, St. Petersburg campus but campuses across the U.S. Minorities are not given the same opportunities as their counterparts, also have limited opportunities in the workforce,” said senior student Evan Greenfield.
USF St. Petersburg Administrator and Task Force Coordinator Caryn Nesmith, says, “It has been a sensitive time for everyone given the isolation of the pandemic.”
The USF St. Petersburg Office of Diversity and Inclusion reported that The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg has issued a planning grant to USF to explore the creation of a Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center.
TRHT Campus Centers would implement action plans with the aim of moving the needle on the transformative goal of erasing structural barriers to equal treatment and opportunity on campuses, in the surrounding communities. This process may take a few years before students are able to receive the resources the centers provided.
“I think I saw an email about the Task Force but do not know any details about the group,” Greenfield said.
Unfortunately, many students on campus feel the same way about the Campus/Community Task Force on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. Nesmith says the Task Force meetings are not open to the public but students or faculty who are interested in listening are welcome to contact her via email.
