Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education: "All Progress is Precarious"

Co-sponsored by

• Center for Educational Outreach
• Marsal Family School of Education
• National Center for Institutional Diversity
• Rackham Graduate School
• Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Schedule

• 3:30-5:00 p.m.: Panel Discussion moderated by Dean Elizabeth Birr Moje
• 5:00-6:00 p.m.: Reception Panelists: 

Panelists

• Demetri Morgan
  Assistant Professor of Education, University of Michigan 
• Mitchell Chang
  Interim VP of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Professor of Education and Asian American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
• Liliana Garces
  Ken McIntyre Professor for Excellence in School Leadership,
  University of Texas at Austin

Discussion

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles and practices are known to have individual and collective benefits as supported by years of evidence. For example, research has shown benefits of diverse learning environments (Hurtado et al., 2003), improved critical thinking and problem solving skills (Bowman, 2010), and that diverse groups perform better than homogeneous groups (Page, 2017).

Despite such benefits and positive outcomes of DEI, there is an active effort to discredit and dismantle the progress made by DEI informed practices. Such efforts have led to the introduction of 85 bills across 28 states, as tracked by the chronicle of higher education, that seek to eliminate DEI offices and DEI training among other DEI related and informed efforts. Such anti-DEI efforts have a direct impact on the states in which legislation has been proposed or passed and a chilling effect on other states where there might be concern of what is to come. 

Though such efforts present a challenge, scholars and practitioners across the country are committed to the advancement of DEI because of the known benefits to the broader human condition. To this end, this panel is for all within higher education from current graduate students to senior faculty administrators and offers an opportunity to reflect on the critical role each of us play in ensuring that our institutions continue to offer access to and within higher education, ensure that systems and structures reflect the needs of all, and that all receive critical resources and support to ensure equitable outcomes. 

Panelists will discuss the current climate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within higher education and the challenges that scholars and practitioners face in employing the practices and principles of DEI, including,

• How did we get to this point?
• How does the current climate shape strategies moving forward?
• Where do we go from here?

RSVP

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