McDonald Announces Goals, Structure for Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity
Division goals include focus on access, climate, diversity education and infrastructure
July 18th, 2016
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Kevin McDonald, interim vice chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, announced today the structure of the new Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) at the University of Missouri. McDonald, who also is serving as the permanent Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Equity officer for the University of Missouri System, said it will be important to work with the community as the new Division educates and promotes diversity on the campus.
“I’d like to thank Chuck Henson, Chancellor Foley, Provost Stokes, and others for their collaborative vision regarding this divisional structure, and I’m looking forward to working with this wonderful group of leaders from across campus that will now comprise this new Division,” McDonald said. “In an effort to chart a strategic direction for diversity and inclusion efforts at MU, the division will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to create an overarching diversity framework aimed at connecting diversity and inclusion to organizational functioning areas.”
The division will begin the development of this framework by focusing on four nationally recognized areas (these areas could change depending on constituency feedback regarding campus needs):
- Access and Success – higher graduation rates for a more diverse student body; increase diversity among faculty and staff.
- Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations – create a welcoming environment to acknowledge and celebrate diversity; provide opportunities for groups to interact and communicate.
- Education and Scholarship – prepare students for the global marketplace; support the curricular/co-curricular efforts of faculty and staff; provide support for research on diversity.
- Institutional Infrastructure – create an infrastructure that supports diversity goals within the University’s strategic plan and ensure that policies and processes reflect diversity and inclusion goals.
These four areas are based on a scholarly approach by nationally recognized faculty in the field and have been successfully utilized in efforts on college campuses across the nation,” McDonald said. “This serves as a starting point, but it is an important process for our diversity efforts at Mizzou, and I look forward to the collaborative road ahead.”
Effective immediately, the following departments will report to the new MU Division:
- Accessibility and ADA Education office
- Gaines-Oldham Black Culture Center
- LGBTQ Resource Center
- Multicultural Center
- Office of Civil Rights & Title IX
- Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center
- Women’s Center
Additionally, staff from the Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative program and staff will be folded into the new Division.
The budget for the Division will include $1.5 million for the 2016-17 fiscal year that will support and build infrastructure and create new initiatives.
“We’re fortunate that Mizzou has a good foundation with many diversity initiatives already in progress; we’ll be able to incorporate many of those resources, and leverage the skills, talents, and abilities of faculty, staff, and students to help move our campus forward in transformative ways,” McDonald said.