President Mark Schlissel updated the Board of Regents on Thursday about the university’s diversity strategic planning process and said he would host a luncheon meeting this fall to bring the planning process into sharper focus.
Earlier this year, the president said he was making diversity, equity and inclusion a priority of his presidency. He said that work would include a new strategic plan to enhance diversity, increase the inclusiveness of the academic community and promote greater equity throughout the university community.
“The process is taking shape,” Schlissel said. “We have created a leadership team to guide the planning process that includes the executive officers and key personnel from areas including Academic Affairs, Student Life and the Health System.
“This is a massive undertaking for us at U-M,” he said. “Having the right structure in place was crucial to keep us moving forward in a collaborative manner.”
Additionally, the president said more than 30 campus units, including the 19 schools and colleges on the Ann Arbor campus, are identifying diversity planning leaders to spearhead the process within their units and coordinate with the overall university effort.
“I want to thank the regents, executive officers, deans and many, many others from all three of our campuses who are engaged very deeply in this process. This includes faculty, staff and students who have provided considerable input since we announced this effort earlier this year,” Schlissel said.
The president said he would host a luncheon meeting Sept. 9 that will continue the university community dialogue regarding diversity that began at his leadership breakfast in February.
“It will include the unit leaders, along with the broad campus representatives who came to the previous meeting. We will discuss the planning process and share ideas as a more formal group.”
