To help support the initiatives outlined in the University of Iowa Strategic Plan 2016–2021, the Chief Diversity Office will continue to focus on and make progress toward four priorities set in January 2018. In addition, an increased focus on underrepresented minority staff recruitment and retention, and assessment and evaluation of current programs, services, and initiatives will be areas of focus in the coming year. The priorities include:

• Improving campus climate
  • Continue diversity, equity, and inclusion data-collection efforts to help inform the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan, set for release in February. Included in the data collection is the new DEI Digest, an online portal that collects information on unit-level DEI activities from all colleges, central offices, shared governance bodies, and diversity councils.
  • Hire a new Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; announcement anticipated during the Spring 2019 semester.
  • Provide training across campus to support shifting the paradigm from diversity to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Continue to cultivate a campus community that respects the broadest definition of diversity to include race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, political beliefs, et cetera.
• Increasing retention and graduation rates of historically marginalized students
• Strengthening the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority faculty and staff
• Enhancing communication of the UI’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
• Increasing assessment and evaluation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, services, and initiatives

The priorities and progress report were outlined during the Chief Diversity Office’s annual Update on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Wednesday, Jan. 16.

“The focus on creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus increases opportunities for collaboration, extends the openness and importance of discussions that include divergent points of view, highlights the importance of DEI work as everyone’s responsibility, and helps us eliminate barriers that hinder the success of our campus community,” said Melissa Shivers, interim chief diversity officer and vice president for student life.  

Shivers also shared these updates during her address:

• The first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan and Campus Climate survey results will be released on Feb. 26.
• The UI is a member of the American Talent Initiative, which is designed to expand access and opportunity for talented low- and moderate-income students. By 2025, ATI aims to attract, enroll, and graduate an additional 50,000 lower-income students at the 296 colleges and universities that consistently graduate at least 70 percent of their students in six years. Learn more.
• The Hawkeye Meal Share program is an initiative that gives students the opportunity to donate their unused guest meal swipes online to any UI undergraduate, graduate, or professional student in need. Since its inception in Spring 2018, the program has provided more than 1,300 meals. Learn more.
• The UI’s Cultural and Resource Centers have expanded their programming to better serve historically marginalized students.
• The Center for Diversity and Enrichment and the Diversity Resources Team will move into space in University Capitol Centre. The departments are currently housed in Phillips Hall and Seashore Hall, respectively, and the move will unite them in a central campus location that is easily accessible by faculty, staff, and students.

The information presented at the Jan. 16, 2018, DEI update is available on the Chief Diversity Office website. You can also listen to and view a closed-captioned video of the presentation.