Talent — Faculty and Staff

Project Lead: Shauna Morgan (Director, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives; Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching)

Charge: Project Team #1 will make recommendations related to required training for all faculty and teaching assistants in topics such as, but not limited to, cultural proficiency and how to engage in constructive discussions around race and racism in the classroom. While it is not the duty of the Project Team to fix or overcome each obstacle between them and their recommendation, the team should catalogue potential challenges to help the Workgroup, co-facilitators and Executive Sponsors know how best to assist (e.g. if a recommendation requires funding or a potential University policy change, the team should note those challenges).

Project Leads: Joia Patterson (Diversity Recruiter, Human Resources) and Rudy Buchheit (Dean, College of Engineering)

Charge: The goal for Project #2 is to identify and recommend strategies to increase employee recruitment and retention for both faculty and staff. This may include changing, moving, or expanding diversity and inclusivity funds and programs to create a more equitable, effective workforce. The team should assess and catalogue hiring practices that promote diversity to ultimately guide hiring officials and department heads.

Project Lead: Aaron Cramer (Chair, University Senate; Associate Professor, College of Engineering)

Charge: This project will establish a group of faculty from diverse backgrounds and areas that will meet regularly to help guide institutional DEI efforts related to faculty. The group will review recommendations that come to the DEI Workgroup and advise the Workgroup of the impact the recommendations may have on faculty. The Faculty Advisory Group will also identify challenges related to DEI and make suggestions with respect to efforts in Phase II and beyond.

Project Lead: Jon Gent (Chair, Staff Senate)

Charge: This project will establish a group of staff from diverse backgrounds and areas that will meet regularly to help guide institutional DEI efforts related to staff. The group will review recommendations that come to the DEI Workgroup and advise the Workgroup of the impact the recommendations may have on staff. The Staff Advisory Group will also identify challenges related to DEI and make suggestions with respect to efforts in Phase II and beyond.

Project Lead: Tara Tuttle (Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, Lewis Honors College; D&I Officer)

Charge: This project will make recommendations to the DEI Workgroup related to expanding and restructuring the Diversity and Inclusion Officer positions within colleges and units. Further, the Project Leads have the opportunity to work in concert with the D&I Officer Advisory Group within DEI.

• David Blackwell, Provost
• Julian Vazquez-Heilig, Dean, College of Education