Framingham State University (FSU) joins the growing coalition pledging to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. One of more than 450 CEOs that have come together for CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, President Javier Cevallos is committing himself and Framingham State University to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

By signing on to this commitment, Framingham State University is pledging to take action to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected and where students and employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion. The collective of more than 450 signatories have already shared more than 500 best known actions, exchanging tangible learning opportunities and creating collaborative conversations via the initiative’s unified hub, CEOAction.com.

“Framingham State University has for many years recognized that the different perspectives students and employees from diverse backgrounds bring to our community enhance the quality of the education we provide,” says President Cevallos. “I’m thrilled to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion by signing this pledge.”

Organizations joining the pledge are taking a step towards effecting positive change. A diverse and inclusive workforce facilitates community, but also drives innovation and creativity. A recent study found that 85 percent of those surveyed reported that diversity is a key component to fostering innovation.

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is cultivating a new type of ecosystem centered around collaboration and sharing. The actions, available via CEOAction.com, showcase real-life examples of the open and transparent conversations to cultivate more diverse and inclusive workplace environments. The addition of new signatories expands the impact of this work beyond the office to communities and industries.

One of the first major decisions by Javier Cevallos when he took over as President of FSU in 2014 was to hire a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Since that time, the University has launched a Center for Inclusive Excellence; developed a Diversity Fellowship program for faculty; launched a College Planning Center dedicated to supporting low-income and non-traditional students seeking to go to college; and undertaken several other initiatives to cultivate diversity and inclusion on campus.

The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is led by a steering committee of CEOs and leaders from Accenture, BCG, Deloitte US, The Executive Leadership Council, EY, General Atlantic, KPMG, New York Life, Procter & Gamble, and PwC. The coalition represents 85 industries, all 50 US States, and 12 million employees globally.

“We are so proud that we are continuing to build momentum and support for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ across companies, industries, and regions. This collaboration expands our reach and brings in unique values, actions and perspectives to continue to raise the bar for the entire business community,” said Tim Ryan, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC and chair of the steering committee for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™. “The overwhelming support for the coalition has been amazing to see and with each and every new organization signing on, we have the opportunity to put our commitments into action by working together to improve diversity and inclusion in our workplaces and communities.”

To learn more about the pledge, visit CEOAction.com. The website serves as a hub for information sharing, idea generation, and program development. With almost 400 best known actions shared, companies that are not currently implementing the elements of the pledge can use it as an opportunity to learn from others that are already doing so. Learning from, and sharing, actions help companies drive greater engagement within their own programs, as well as mentor others on their journey.