Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: A Call to Action

Educate yourself on social justice issues.
Champion diversity, equity and inclusion within our campus and community.
Speak up and speak out against injustices.
Join one of the DE&I committees by contacting the Office of Diversity Programs.

Inclusive excellence is a framework that asserts that excellence indeed comes from diversity, equity and inclusion — from creating a workplace and learning environment that drives innovation, learning and performance.

— Dr. Damon A. Williams

Community Resources

Community resources are intended for those who identify within marginalized communities. Explore local DE&I resources.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council

Mission

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council is established to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of Saginaw Valley State University and continue the work brought forth to the President by faculty, staff, and students concerning racial issues at SVSU.

Membership

• The membership shall consist of the Chief Diversity Officer, faculty members, staff members, administrators, two graduate students, and two undergraduate students.
• The Advisory Council is comprised of members from across all academic and administrative support divisions of Saginaw Valley State University.

The charge of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

Advising the Chief Diversity Officer on issues occurring on the campus as it pertains to diversity and inclusion and suggest ways to promote diversity and develop a welcoming and inclusive campus climate.
Help create and maintain a campus that is fair, responsive, and inclusive for all faculty, staff, and students.
Hold University leadership accountable for remedying cultural insensitivity and social justice on campus.
Serving as a sounding board for the Office of Diversity Programs on new or ongoing initiatives.
The advisory council will address specific issues raised by the Black Faculty, Staff and Administration.
The advisory council will address specifically, the following issues raised in the Manifesto by OBU.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

Serve as the liaison to the Office of Diversity Programs.
Actively participate on at least one DEI sub-committee.
The Council will provide updates and an annual report to the University community on aspects of diversity progress.
Attend monthly meetings each semester.
Promote DEI programs and initiatives by serving as an advocate.
Solicit productive internal and external alliances to support and advance equity and inclusion at SVSU.
Assist with implementation of the diversity strategic plan.

The 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council

Dr. Mamie Thorns

Title IX Coordinator

Clifford Block

Chief of University Police

Eddie V Jones

Co-Chair, Goal 6

Joni M Beaman

Education Consultant

Kathleen A Chantaca-Kubczak

Administrative Secretary

James E Tarr

Co-Chair, Goal 1

Susan Crane

Co-Chair, Goal 3

Anita C Dey

Director of the Melvin J. Zahnow Library

Poonam Dharam

Co-Chair, Goal 4

Roberto Garcia

Co-Chair, Goal 2

Dawn Hinton

Co-Chair, Goal 1

Kenneth Jolly

Co-Chair, Goal 4

Ava Lewis

Co-Chair, Goal 5

Megan C McAdow

Director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum

Mari MacFarland

Assistant Professor of Teacher Education

Maureen Muchimba

Co-Chair, Goal 5

Joseph C Ofori-Dankwa

Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Professor

Corrie Piotrowski

Co-Chair, Goal 3

Abbegail Stemple

Co-Chair, Goal 6

Brian Thomas

Co-Chair, Goal 7

Delores M Walker

Administrative Secretary

Deborah Huntley

Ex-officio Council Member

Mary A Kowaleski

Ex-officio Council Member

GOAL PROGRESS

SVSU DE&I External Review Report 2021 (1,201KB)
DE&I Goals Update Town Hall 2 (2021-2022) (2,733KB)
DE&I Goals Update Town Hall 3 (2022-2023) (1,866KB)

GOAL PROGRESS 20/21

GOAL I
Work with the Diversity Programs office to secure a diversity inventory.

GOAL II
Positively affect recruitment by working with the SVSU Recruitment Council to establish measurable goals for the recruitment of Black, Hispanic and other communities of color; and, retention by partnering with the Achievement Gap subcommittee of the Retention and Completion Council and supporting the retention and graduation goals outlined in the SVSU Retention Plan.

GOAL III
Reviewed and updated the Inclusion Advocate (IA) Program.

GOALS IV & V
Identified multiple resources and advocated for workshops and other learning opportunities meant to enhance the curriculum, community, climate and centrality of diversity on campus to support faculty, staff, and students.

GOAL VI
Completed application for the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award (HEED) in Health Professions, created a Global Diversity Award, and developed “Spotlight on Diversity” feature for the Diversity Programs website.

GOAL VII
Held listening sessions to identify winter semester leadership workshops and guide development of the leadership institute.

GOAL PLANNING 21/22

GOAL I
Work with the university to plan for addressing gaps in policies and procedures identified in the Inclusive Excellence Inventory currently underway.

GOAL II
Opening of the SVSU Multicultural Center (Fall 2021).

GOAL III
Review and update SVSU hiring policies and procedures.

GOALS IV
Send proposal for Black Studies Major to Curriculum Committee.

GOAL V
Collaborate with Goal IV and the Implicit Bias Committee to develop faculty workshops for AY 2021-2022.

GOAL VI
Conduct a national review of student awards which recognize achievement in furthering diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses. Develop a faculty/staff research award to honor exemplary efforts in furthering diversity and inclusion on campus and the Great Lakes Bay region.

GOAL VII
Create employee resource (or affinity) groups. Assist in the development of the SVSU Leadership Development Program

Timeline of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

1991

Board of Control Statement on Cultural Initiatives
Affirmative Action office

2002

Office of Diversity Programs created
First Climate Survey administered
Affirmative Action Workplace Data

2005

Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute
Roosevelt Ruffin Diversity Award created

2006

Endowed Lecture on African American Culture established

2009

Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Leadership Institute established
Inclusion and Advocacy Training – 186 faculty and staff have participated

2013

Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) awarded to SVSU
Title IX Initiatives

2014

First Female Provost – Dr. Deborah Huntley
VA office established

2015

Second Climate Survey administered
First African American Endowed Chair in International Business – Dr. Joseph Ofori-Dankwa
First Hispanic Endowed Chair in Education – Dr. David Callejo Perez
Gender Identity added to Anti-harrassment/ Discrimination Policy
First LGBTQ Pride Center opened

2016

Urban and Civic Partnership Scholars
Great Colleges to Work for
Increase in Disability population
Strategic Plan

2017

Strategic Plan
Culture Competency

2018

Strategic Plan
HEED Award
Cultural Competency

2019

Strategic Plan
Cultural Competency

2020

Strategic Plan
OBU Manifesto
Black Faculty & Staff Manifesto
Cultural Competency
Faculty Diversity Fellows
Title IX
DE&I Council
Campus Climate Survey Administered

2022

Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) awarded to SVSU

The Road to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council

2016 - 2020: University Strategic Plan

SUMMER 2020: President’s Statement on Race Relation Challenges
SUMMER 2020: Racial Relations Black Faculty, Staff, Administration at SVSU
AUGUST 31, 2020: Organization of Black Unity Manifesto
AUGUST 14, 2020: Title IX Discussion & Awareness
SUMMER 2020: Annual Affirmative Action Workforce Data & Diversity Dashboard
SEPTEMBER 2020: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council Established
OCTOBER 2020: Assessment of Climate for Learning, Living & Working
NOVEMBER 2020: Microaggression, How to be an Antiracist Workshops
JANUARY 2021: MLK Celebration:An Evening with Van Jones
FEBRUARY 2021: Courageous Conversations: Race & COVID-19
FEBRUARY 2021: Black History Month: Social Justice & Ongoing Racism with Angela Davis
MARCH 2021: Strategies to Increase Diverse Recruitment of SVSU Faculty & Staff
APRIL 2021: Strategies to Reduce Bias in the Workplace & Classroom
APRIL 23, 2021: DE&I Townhall

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Goals

GOAL I
To create an organizational infrastructure to lead, plan, and be accountable for institutional progress for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

GOAL II
To show continuous improvement in the recruitment and retention of diverse students.

GOAL III
To show continuous improvement in the recruitment, advancement, and retention of diverse community.

GOAL IV
Multicultural curriculum transformation.

GOAL V
Enhancing the community, climate, and centrality of diversity.

GOAL VI
Awards received for diversity excellence.

GOAL VII
Establish the diversity and inclusion leadership academy.

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