Western Michigan University
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Office of Diversity and Inclusion: To ensure equitable access for all, ODI provides leadership by working collaboratively with the University community to identify and overcome institutional barriers and affirm the dignity, value and uniqueness of each member of our community.

Office of Institutional Equity: Promotes equal opportunity, equity, access, and excellence for all members of the university community and provides compliance oversight regarding applicable laws, regulations, and policies to ensure a welcoming, safe, and civil and inclusive environment.

University-wide Diversity Councils endeavor to promote change and inclusivity within each academic college through curriculum change, access and equity, research and scholarship, and the building of a multicultural and inclusive climate throughout the college.

At this time the university does not have a structured training to advance diversity and inclusion. However all faculty and administrative search committees are required to participate in an Implicit Bias training. This training would include faculty, staff and a minimal amount of students. Approximately less than 5% of employees and students have completed formal diversity training.

Additional programs:

The Real Talk Diversity Series (8 to 12 events each AY) serves as a catalyst to promote, celebrate, and increase awareness about diversity at WMU, to recognize cultural differences as well as similarities, and to encourage cross-cultural interaction. Participants gain an increased awareness of diversity, develop basic communication skills around diversity, gain a basic understanding of privilege and identify examples of oppression, and learn to actively resist systems of privilege and oppression in their everyday lives. This is open to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

https://wmich.edu/diversity/events/real-talk-diversity-series-2018-19

The Lyceum Lecture Series has in the past addressed inclusion and diversity as a topic. The lectures are every Wednesday over the lunch hour. There are approximately 13 events each semester. The spring 2018 series focused on Mental Health Matters: College Student Mental Health in the 21st century. The fall 2018 series focused on Food for All: Sustainable Practices, Community Access and Nutrition. This is open to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

https://wmich.edu/honors/events/lectures

The Office of Institutional Equity offers Implicit Bias training, Title IX training and other resources. There are online resources for recruitment, retention, and hiring at http://www.wmich.edu/equity/resources as well as a Bias-free Hiring Quick Reference Guide. WMU's Office of Institutional Equity monitors and recommends additional recruitment to create diverse pools. This is open to search committees for faculty and executive level positions. Other search committees may make a request as well.

https://wmich.edu/equity

Equity Office: http://www.wmich.edu/equity

Cultural Competence Training: http://wmich.edu/facdev/Programs/EveryoneCounts.html; http://www.wmich.edu/facdev/Programs/NewFacultySeminar.html