Dear IHP Community,
Each year, I write to you on Juneteenth to acknowledge the importance of this day as a celebration of the freedom from slavery that occurred when the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas. This year will be no different. On this day, we recognize that we have come a long way since 1865 and continue to have work to do to make sure all our environments are welcoming and inclusive to all members of society.
At the IHP, one of the core foundations of our work is the concept of health equity. Health equity is creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances. We are committed to making sure our students understand the principles of health equity and are committed to working toward those goals in their practice, as students and as graduates. As a community, we are committed to building a workplace that is respectful and inclusive of all employees.
This past semester, the Mission, Values, and Community Excellence (MVCE) Council focused heavily on having conversations about the political climate and how to support members of our community. As you will recall, upon the recommendation of the MVCE Council and in alignment with the IHP strategic plan, the MVCE Office disseminated the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) survey in March 2024.
In Fall 2024, we shared the survey results with the MVCE Council, IHP leadership, and academic departments. Each of the academic departments received the results for their academic units and are developing interventions. During the spring of 2025, the academic departments began initiatives to improve students’ experiences (e.g., implementation of a mentoring program, applying for grant funding to support students, improving advising processes). For more information about the themes specific to your department or school, please contact your program chair.
Also in the Spring of 2025, the MVCE Office held six visioning sessions for members of the IHP community - faculty, staff, students, and alumni - to share their thoughts and vision for the ongoing work. The themes that appeared from those sessions resulted in the new office name that explicitly references how the office engages in mission-critical work and is centering on the Institute’s values and expectations of community excellence.
Our work at the IHP continues to address issues of inequality. Our MVCE Office is actively working toward identifying areas in which we can improve and build our capacity for that improvement. As we celebrate the importance of Juneteenth, I hope you take time to reflect on the significance of this day and your role in making our community a positive and inclusive environment.
The MVCE Office is planning a Juneteenth event on June 24, 1-2pm, which is open to all. Mark your calendars and watch your email for more information.
Paula