Administration addresses student recommendations
In December 2015, student leaders from the Black Students’ Union (BSU) and the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) presented MIT’s senior administration with recommendations for making the Institute a more welcoming and inclusive place for all members of its community. The Academic Council, chaired by President L. Rafael Reif, is partnering with the students to consider all the recommendations and move forward with steps to address them. Those changes that can be implemented soon will be in place within a matter of months; others will take more time. A dedicated Academic Council working group, convened by Vice President Kirk Kolenbrander and consisting of students, faculty, and senior officers, will share a public progress report around the time of spring break. The report will outline the actions being taken in the shorter term, including enhancements to orientation for incoming students and the recruitment of a specialized mental health counselor, according to Kolenbrander. For...