Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion @UMSI
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion @ UMSI
Our commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion long predates the University of Michigan-wide DEI strategic planning process launched in 2015. We continue to invest more time and more resources across the school towards collaboratively developed actions that will move us toward becoming a more equitable institution. Faculty play a pivotal role in this effort and the DEI Office is here to partner with you.
Read below for more information about how DEI is organized at UMSI, specifics about the DEI 2.0 Strategic plan, and the DEI Office along with a short guide on where DEI resources are found. You may also reach out to the DEI Office at umsi.deioffice@umich.edu or reach Devon Keen, Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion directly at devaca@umich.edu. We can connect you to DEI-related resources and/or consult with you regarding a specific issue or concern.
UMSI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan
One primary role of the DEI Office is to create, facilitate, and oversee the UMSI DEI Strategic Plan. The objectives and action items included in the plans are identified in collaboration with faculty, staff, and students. The strategic plan guides DEI work and initiatives and is reviewed and updated yearly. DEI 2.0 launched in Fall 2023. The plan includes multiple objectives. The responsibility for each objective is distributed across UMSI's units.
There are specific objectives and action items directly related to faculty. These action items were decided on by UMSI faculty in 2022-2023.
Example of one DEI 2.0 faculty-related objective:
Build pedagogical skills, structures, and systems for faculty and GSI's to promote accessible and equitable experiences and learning environments for students.
Specific DEI commitments made by UMSI faculty:
Each faculty member will make one or two meaningful changes per semester to one course that they have taught before, to make it more equitable, inclusive, and/or antiracist.
Each faculty member will attend 2 DEI-related workshops, talks, or seminars each year (see DEI resources listed below for initial options). [
Opportunities to Engage:
There are opportunities for faculty to participate in K-14 Educational Outreach with a time commitment ranging from 1 hour (ex. an interactive presentation to community college students) to 4 weeks (ex. teaching a Wolverine Pathways Summer Institute for high school students)
Attend the Educational Outreach Community Conversation held each January
Join the interest list to receive educational outreach notifications
More Info:
Learn more about the current DEI strategic plan
Review previous DEI efforts: DEI 1.0 Highlights: Process & Progress website
Access this article to learn more about our K-14 Educational Outreach summer programs
DEI Organization & Resources
How is DEI represented at UMSI? UMSI’s DEI work follows a distributed and integrated model focused on building DEI into the fabric of everything we do:
Leadership Team: Direction, resources, and top-level support
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office (DEIO): Oversight, planning, consultation, school-level initiatives, communication, conflict resolution support
DEI Committee: Team of faculty, staff, and students tasked with furthering specific DEI priorities
Assigned faculty service position- Inclusive Teaching Liaison to the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
School committee charges (academic programs, hiring committees)
Unit-based work - Units such as the Career Development Office, Engaged Learning Office, and Office of Academic and Student Affairs (among others) are responsible for various DEI 2.0 objectives & actions
Faculty and staff annual goal-setting and performance review process include DEI priorities
Organization of a few key DEI Resources:
The UMSI Intranet (https://intranet.si.umich.edu/front) has a DEI section where you can find climate surveys (social climate), DEI Strategic plans & progress reports, workshop summaries & resources
DEI Resource module within the UMSI Teaching Resources Canvas Site: UMSI DEI Resources for Teaching
Other resources:
Each member of the University of Michigan School of Information’s scholarly community comes from a distinctive background, making our school stronger and helping us to fulfill our mission of building a better world through technology and information. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office (DEIO) serves this mission by working with UMSI leadership to provide opportunities for UMSI students, faculty, and staff to deeply engage in the rewarding and challenging DEI work of:
Building Community
Building Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) related skills and knowledge; and
Building Equitable accountability structures, policies and practices
UMSI DEI Office Activities & Initiatives:
Yearly celebrations such as Lunar New Year, MLK Symposium Event, iDEI talks
DEI workshops
Community Conversations
Educational Outreach opportunities (K-14)
Consultations with faculty, students & staff on DEI issues of concern
A monthly DEI newsletter
Yearly DEI Awards
Guidance and advisement to faculty & staff on annual DEI goal setting (part of annual review & performance evaluations)
Liaison to the central U-M Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI)
Developing yearly charge for UMSI DEI Committee and working in consultation with them on DEI programming & initiatives
General Contact: umsi.deioffice@umich.edu