IDI program set to distribute $339K across campus

August 24, 2023 - Henry Mochida

The Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is funding over 32 projects this academic year through the Creating Inclusive Excellence Grants program. In total, the office is distributing $339,767.00 across campus to provide matching support funds to initiatives that advance MSU's diversity, equity and inclusion priorities.

An expert panel committee reviewed submitted proposals by MSU-affiliated students, faculty and staff for a maximum award of $15,000.

“We thank our reviewers across campus for lending their expertise,” said Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D. “The awarded projects are examples of the university’s commitment to building capacity and enhancing inclusion across every level of the institution.”

Topics for this year's projects range from supporting how Middle Eastern and North African American's are counted to curricular development in STEM and health courses, to combating food insecurity in Tanzania and developing a pipeline for MSU Detroit early honors experience and more.

Here are some hightlights from last year's recipients:

Increasing the diversity of expert voices in media

University Communications launched Diverse Voices during the 2022-23 academic year to inform and support faculty from colleges and units across campus who are underrepresented in media. The fellowship engaged 25 faculty with a range of media experience in a two-day program, placing participants in dialogue with members from the Op-Ed Project, The Conversation and Michigan journalists. Due to meeting its goals of amplifying the research and voices of diverse MSU faculty as well as increasing the number of experts featured in regional and top tier media placements, Diverse Voices will continue to be offered in the 2023-24 academic year. 

Operationalizing DEI in educational programming

With a lack of DEI-focused professional development opportunities for students, staff, and faculty, staff from MSU Extension, Faculty and Academic Staff Development and Human Resources sought to create connections, materials, and training resources to ensure that MSU professional development programs align to meet best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion. Through listening sessions, valuable insights and feedback were gathered with the need to engage subject matter expertise identified as crucial to a programs overall success. In addition, to the design of two half-day programs that will be piloted in fall 2023, a video was produced with the Transforming Theatre Ensemble as an additional resource that educators can use in their own workshops.

Expanding MSU's global DEI network in Morocco

In continuation of partnership, MSU and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco jointed organized a Middle East and North Africa region conference on Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Ben Guerir, Morocco from May 16 to 17, 2023. The conference featured DEI-related professional development and capacity building discussions and solutions that were both specific to the region and relevant to broader global issues. The conference featured DEI-related professional development and capacity building discussions, and solutions that were both region-specific and relevant to broader global issues.The conference provided a platform to strengthen international partnerships and resource networks through the inclusion of diverse voices, perspectives and experiences, laying the foundation for a Global DEI Network.

Visit the CIEG webpage to learn more.