Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Support for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education has become ubiquitous, but the ways universities display that commitment could frequently be characterized as, as Dr. Martin Luther King once put it, “A high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds.” Our desire is to make an impact and to continuously improve as we work to become a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution. This work will ultimately benefit our students in their academic experience, and prepare them for the world in which they will engage.

The University of Michigan-Flint’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is displayed through action. Through the establishment of the DEI Committee, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the adoption of our DEI Strategic Action Plan, which includes goals and timelines to help monitor and ensure our progress toward our important goals.

DEI Defined

At UM-Flint, as outlined in the DEI Strategic Action Plan, we define DEI as follows:

Diversity: A range of ideas, opinions, perspectives, experiences, and decision-makers across race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, religious commitments, age, (dis)ability status, political perspective, and other variables related to life experience.

Equity: Equal outcomes through just and fair practices, policies, and procedures, particularly for the historically underserved. Disruption and dismantling of any identified institutional barrier or situation that unfairly or unjustly impacts a specific population based on their identity.

Inclusion: Equal opportunities and resources for all individuals. Deliberate efforts to ensure that differences are welcomed and valued, differing perspectives are respectfully and empathically heard, and every individual feels a sense of belonging, community, and agency.

How Diverse is UM-Flint?

The Office of Institutional Analysis collects and compiles data on our campus demographics and has a number of reports that are also available to the public. Campus statistics through Institutional Analysis are available here.

Key Initiatives in DEI

The DEI Strategic Action Plan lays out broad goals and suggested tactics for improving our institutional excellence with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some of this work means supporting and enhancing existing programs, while other aspects mean generating new programs. Here are a few of our noteworthy new or enhanced initiatives, informed, or supported in significant ways through our strategic action plan:

The Division of Student Affairs launched the Success Peer Mentoring program with the understanding that peer mentoring programs are evidence-based initiatives that cultivate student belonging and promote success for our diverse student population.
Enhancement of DEI competencies is a continued effort that now expands beyond UM-Flint, with a short professional development course, Cultivating Equity in your Organization available to local businesses.
In engaging in the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, it’s important to establish shared meaning in the language being used, which will also improve our collective understanding. The DEI strategic action plan contains a DEI glossary to begin shaping our campus’ knowledge and comprehension of some of the language of DEI.
The DEI Initiative Grant program is an effort to solicit the insights and expertise of the entire UM-Flint community in pursuit of inclusive excellence. The DIG program is a funding opportunity for UM-Flint employees to create projects that support progress toward the goals of our DEI strategic action plan. Learn more about the DIG projects:
A priority in the DEI SAP has been to increase professional and leadership development opportunities related to DEI, and that is under way. The Wolverines for Social Justice and Diversity Residential Learning Community, Social Justice Leadership Series, Inclusive Leadership Certificate, Leadership and Healthy Masculinity, and Sexual Violence Prevention Certificate programs are all examples of collaborative efforts toward this goal.
Institutional efforts focus on promoting belonging throughout campus. Additionally, certain spaces, open to all, intentionally center identities of specific student populations to promote belonging and focused support. Spaces like the Center for Gender and Sexuality, Center for Global Engagement, Intercultural Center, and Student Veterans Resource Center are among those centers that work to support our diverse students and their success.
In an effort to promote scholarship and research-based advocacy addressing some of the specific circumstances faced by Flint and other similar cities, the University, through the DEI Committee and in consultation with numerous faculty and staff partners, established the Urban Institute for Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice. Students can plug into the Urban Institute through research and employment opportunities to equip them for an impactful future.
Programming for Inclusive Excellence funds of up to $2,000, provided by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, will support speakers, workshops, and activities that support DEI professional development and growth. These funds function as a means of promoting more growth opportunities in the collective knowledge and understanding of DEI in the UM-Flint Community. The DEI office will match an additional $1,000 if the department provides $1,000. If a unit on campus is planning to host a DEI-related speaker, workshop facilitator, etc., they can send that information to [email protected] for possible support.
These are a sampling of some of the work underway at the university. As the work continues, we will keep our university community informed. We welcome your feedback along the way.