UMKC Strategic Plan:
Embrace Diversity
Susan B. Wilson, Ph.D. MBA
Vice Chancellor, Division of
Diversity and Inclusion
Goals and Focus
• Achieve the vision of a diverse and
inclusive university environment
– To embrace diversity in all aspects of
university life, creating
• Inclusive environments
• Culturally competent citizens
• Globally oriented curricula and programs
Broad Definition of Diversity for Division
• Includes all the ways in which individuals and groups differ in
characteristics, experience and multiplicity of human
expression.
– Race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation,
disability, linguistic ability, learning style, and socioeconomic or veteran status are but parts of the broad
diversity that UMKC values and seeks to cultivate for the
individual and collective transformation and excellence that
can be generated.
• Diversity reaches across the institution to promote access,
respect, inclusiveness, support and cultural awareness in all
of UMKC’s working, learning and living environments so that a
welcoming community is evident throughout.
Expanded Scope and Focus of Division
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Students
Faculty
Staff
University Community
External Community
Division of Diversity and Inclusion
• Collaborative
– No one office or division can implement
organizational change and transformation
• Strategic
– All diversity initiatives are tied to overall
critical success factors for UMKC
• Engaged Stakeholders
– Feedback and tracking emerging issues is
important to success
Strategic Areas
• Diversity and Inclusion is linked to the key
success factors of the university such as
enrollment, retention, graduation through 6
components:
– Access, representation, and success
– Climate and campus environment
– Responsive teaching, research and experimental
learning
– Community Engagement
– UMKC and urban community in partnership
– Institutional resources and infrastructure
Diversity and Inclusion Updates
• “Embrace Diversity” plan and new Vice
Chancellor of Diversity introduced April
2014
• Chancellor’s Diversity Council and Division
partnership in implementation phase
Strategic Plan Implementation
• Diversity VC hired
• Diversity Training and Faculty
Development Committee organizational
meeting held in October
• Academic Unit diversity planning
launching early November
• Student Climate Survey Initiative forming
Other initiatives
• Diversity Dashboard
• Chancellor’s LGBT Leadership Council
formed
• African American Leadership Council in
the Planning Stages
• Faculty Diversity project awards process
coming
How You Can Participate
• Provide Feedback—we
need your perspectives!
• Serve or identify faculty
for Diversity Council
• Contribute ideas to your
academic unit’s diversity
strategic planning
process
• Spread the word
Other Strategic Diversity Initiatives
• Diversity Council revamped to include more
faculty
• Diversity integrated into performance evaluation
• Diversity Data Dashboard—draft completed
• Faculty diversity project awards
• New D & I website to launch in December 2014
7th Annual Pride Lecture
Dustin Lance Black
Screenwriter, Producer, Director,
Social Activist
Won the Academy Award®
and two WGA Awards for Best
Original Screenplay for MILK,
the biopic of the late civil
rights activist Harvey Milk
starring Sean Penn.
Founding board member of
the American Foundation for
Equal Rights (AFER) which
successfully led the Federal
Case against Prop 8 in CA
with lawyers David Boise and
Ted Olson.
Social Justice Lecture
Rebecca Skloot
The author of the No. 1 New York
Times Bestseller “The Immortal
Life of Henrietta Lacks.” She has
worked as a correspondent for
WNYC's Radiolab and PBS's
Nova ScienceNOW. She and her
father, Floyd Skloot, co-edited
The Best American Science
Writing 2011.
This work was part of a University
Community “read in.” It
discusses legal and ethical issues
related to medical research in
poor, diverse communities.
Author
D&I Lecture Series 2014-15
The UMKC Diversity and Inclusion Lecture Series brings national thought
leaders on campus to offer ideas and perspectives that elevate the discourse in
Kansas City on issues of social justice, equity and advocacy.
7th Annual Pride Lecture | Oct 21, 2014 | 6 pm - Pierson Auditorium
Dustin Lance Black - Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Social Activist
5th Annual Social Justice Book Lecture | Nov 13, 2014 | 6 pm Pierson Auditorium
Rebecca Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
8th Annual MLK Lecture | Jan 26, 2015 | 6 pm - Pierson Auditorium
Nikki Giovanni - An Evening of Poetry Love and Enlightenment
7th Annual Cesar Chavez Lecture | April 2015 | TBD
Social Justice Related
Screenings and Discussions
Sponsored by the UMKC University Libraries
Film Screening and Panel Discussion| Oct 26, 2014 | 2 pm – Miller Nichols
Learning Center, Room 451
Cancer Cell Research: The Way of all Flesh – The story of Henrietta Lacks
and her cells
Film Screening| Oct 29, 2014 | 12 pm – School of Medicine, Theater
Cancer Cell Research: The Way of all Flesh – The story of Henrietta Lacks
and her cells
Book Discussion| Oct 29, 2015 | 6 pm – Miller Nichols Library, iX Theater
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – by Rebecca Skloot
Thanks for your time and
attention!
Your feedback and input is
welcome!