DEI Pillars

Four pillars to build a culture of belonging

View our plan

In October 2023 the Ford School launched its five-year strategic plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—a strategic and ambitious roadmap thoughtfully crafted with insights from student leaders, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Over the next five years, the plan will guide our efforts to nurture our dynamic learning environment; ignite innovation in how we do our work; and deepen our culture of belonging, anchored in principles of justice.

Diversifying who we are

We aim to attract and retain new and diverse students, faculty, and staff with varied perspectives and experiences.

Actions include:

Early outreach to undergraduate students and explore strategies for increased financial support
Address bias in admissions processes
Continue to leverage existing internal visiting faculty, practitioners, and fellows opportunities to engage diverse experts.
Increase outreach and advertising for staff positions
Diversify our donor base
Dedicate resources to support a robust team of DEI staff
Collaborate with registered Ford School student organizations to support their leadership growth and impact.

And more…

In summer 2023, four outstanding Spelman students spent seven weeks conducting social policy research with the Youth Policy Lab as part of our new ASPIRE program.

Diversifying how and what we teach

The best policy solutions are made possible when everyone has a seat at the table. We aim to:

Integrate global perspectives, antiracist perspectives, and focus on disability awareness and structural ableism in our curriculum and co-curricular offerings; and
Promote and support inclusive teaching and learning among our faculty

Actions include:

Conduct an ADA audit for Weill Hall
Accommodate less visible disabilities
Invest in more resources for Student & Academic Services and Career Services to support URM and international students.
Work with the Dean and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to offer additional electives and core courses that center race, racism, and antiracism.
Work with the DEI team and the Center for Racial justice to regularly promote and offer programming that centers antiracism and racial justice.

And more…

New course

Kristina Fullerton Rico describes her new course

PubPol 750.007: Latinx Policy Perspectives and Social Movements in the U.S.

My new course examines policy issues affecting Latinx populations in the United States and social movements that have advocated for Latinx communities. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Latinx populations in areas such as immigration, education, and employment. The course will explore the ways in which Latinx groups have organized and advocated for policy changes at the local, state, and national levels.

Too often, Latines are portrayed as one monolithic group, so I'm always excited to highlight the diversity of Latinx populations in the U.S. and the complex intersections of race, indigeneity, class, gender, sexuality, age, national origin, and immigration status that shape political agendas and policy impacts. Students in the class are also learning about historical events and social movements and how they continue to resonate today.

View PubPol 750.007: Latinx Policy Perspectives and Social Movements in the U.S.

Promoting an equitable and inclusive climate

Creating a community of belonging bolsters our collective impact. We aim to:

Foster staff culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion;
Bolster and promote student financial resources and enhancing supportive wraparound services;
Promote shared values, norms, and practices around mental health advocacy in an effort to foster a supportive environment for all members to work, learn, and thrive; and
Promote shared values, norms, and practices around accessibility and disability advocacy in an effort to foster a supportive environment for all members to work, learn, and thrive.

Actions include:

Identify staff workshops, webinars, seminars, and/or best practices to support URM and international students.
Collaborate with the staff professional development committee to identify and curate workshop offerings aimed at fostering skill development, improving career effectiveness, and promoting job satisfaction among staff members.
Work with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the DEI team to regularly promote and offer training and workshops on antiracist pedagogy.
Work with the DEI team and DEI research fellows to organize opportunities that support faculty in their course design efforts.

And more…

Meet our Embedded CAPS Therapist: Paige Ziegler

Aug 23, 2023| 01:20

The University of Michigan Office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has embedded therapists in schools and colleges across the Ann...

Watch the video

Featured video from Meet our Embedded CAPS Therapist: Paige Ziegler

Diversifying our research and policy engagement

We aim to forward solutions that remedy the impacts of systemic inequality.

Actions include:

Incorporate more storytelling in policy engagement and policy talks to spotlight our commitment to DEI and antiracism.
Strengthen and promote communication channels between faculty and our Communications & Outreach team to capture work that addresses systematic inequality.

And more…