The Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness (IDEA) committee is charged with developing strategies and actionable items to foster a community of diversity and inclusion for our students, faculty, and staff within the college. We recognize the research demonstrating that innovation and group performance are enhanced by diversity. While diversity and inclusion have long been important for the CCVM, it becomes even more important to take significant steps in this direction as our entering class includes an increasing percentage of students from underrepresented minority backgrounds. The committee includes students, faculty and staff.