HUSKIES

The potential of creating an inclusive campus climate lies in the total transformation and restructuring of universities and the amount of empowerment they give to minority students to mediate their own environments and subcultures.

My Persistence Story

What would a campus that is inclusive of every student

look like?

Safe Healthy Inclusive

Constant work

Not just physical

Students Need A SAFE Campus In Order to Feel A Sense of Belonging

The glue that engages students = persistence

What does safety look like for you?

Healthy Eating

• “Feeding” students the message that we sincerely and constantly care not only about diversity but

also how we embrace that diversity.

Exercising

Diverse programing

Regular & purposeful dialogues

Staff & faculty

education

Not just “talking the talk”…

But “walking the walk”

Regular Checkups

Africa

n Am

erica

n/Non

-Hisp

anic

Asian/

Pacific

Islan

der

Whit

e-Non

-Hisp

anic

Inte

rnat

ional

0%

40%

80%

120%

Percentage Retained into Fall 2013Three-Year Average Percentage (2011-13)

First-to-Second-Year Retention Rates by Ethnicity*

http://www.mtu.edu/equity/diversity/facts/retention/

• As Assistant Director for CDI:–Acknowledge my identities &

lenses– Interrupt & problematize

discrimination & oppression

Making Diversity Our Strength

Specifically, I will:• Advocate & Educate

– Sit on committees – Be a neutral party for bias reporting – Implement trainings/CDI social justice lecture

series– Collaborate– Recognize intersectionality – Help students empower themselves– Connect social justice education to leadership

development– Form meaningful relationships with students– Purposefully facilitate difficult discussions…and

then move from discussion to action

Enacting A Vision For A Safe & Healthy Campus Climate

“Feeding” students

messages that promote

diversity

“Checkup” on climate

studies/retention data

“Exercising” diversity through

trainings & dialogues

Encourage majority population to participate in diversity events

Enhance visibility of diversity efforts

Campus-wide expectations

Challenges• The Inherent Conflict Between

Inclusion and Excellence….– “…the purpose of a university is

academic achievement. If you allow academic performance as the main goal of a school you might find less social diversity but you will have a strong university…awareness of social diversity is good to have but not all important” - 2010 Climate Survey student quote

We Are Limited By Our Experiences

• Link diversity initiatives to the quality of education.– Diverse perspectives allow us to experience the

world more richly.– Research shows that most students go virtually

untouched by the college experience, however, the greatest impact of college on students, is identity development.• The answer to who I am is: Who are you and

who are we together?

But How Do We Do This in the STEM Fields?

• Any science student or professor can examine how scientific knowledge is constructed by considering how it is shaped by positionality.– Recognize how values shape

observation & which questions get asked

The Challenge of Unchecked/Unconscious Bias

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a computer-based test that asks people to group words into pair categories. Most

people perform the task more quickly and more accurately if the combinations of

categories match their unconscious associations.

In Addition to Utilizing the CDI Cultural Competency Training

Model

• Bystander Intervention Campaign• A truly inclusive campus is willing to

engage in the daily work of unlearning, challenging, & dismantling oppressive systems

• Empower students to cultivate their identities as allies & advocates

Lack of Diversity Challenge

Female25%

Male75%

Bachelor's Degree En-rollment by Gender fall

2012 (Approx.)

Bachelor’s Degree Enrollment by Ethnicity fall 2012

Solution?: Mission Statement

• “we prepare students to create the future”…but diversity is not mentioned until the strategic plan.

• Inclusive Excellence = link b/w equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives & educational mission.– Need the support of the campus

community!

Questions &

Discussion