Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Goal 1: Promote an inclusive environment

Strategy 1: Use empirically validated methods to address the challenges and opportunities that arise for CLAS students, faculty, and staff
Strategy 2: Integrate DEI throughout the educational and scholarly experience in CLAS
Strategy 3: Foster a greater sense of community within the college

Goal 2: Build stronger infrastructure to support DEI efforts

Strategy 1: Increase support provided to first-generation, URM, and international students, faculty, and staff in CLAS
Strategy 2: Build DEI capacity across the college

Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Senior Director of Human Resources

Co-developed an inaugural new staff orientation, launched in spring 2023
Established funding awards for event programs, conferences and pilot initiatives that increase accessibility and education for diversity, equity, and inclusion, open to all faculty, students and staff
Developed a curriculum module accessible to all faculty and staff
Established CLAS network bringing together representatives from every department
Formed work groups to address mentoring, service equity, and toolkit priorities:
Survey designed to support a pairing system for mentoring, with pilot set to launch August 2023 during new faculty orientation
Recommended a process for defining Service and proposed time commitment
Developed toolkit of resources for instructors to make available beginning August 2023

Provide mechanisms to enhance, create, or inform policies and procedures related to challenges and opportunities in the college
Provide feedback mechanisms to respond to issues in College
Assess and strengthen general education (GE CLAS Core) requirement
Enhance educational opportunities for the college community to increase awareness, knowledge, and skill development
Strengthen departmental and unit infrastructure
Leverage resources to enhance faculty, staff, and departmental engagement
Raise awareness and increase opportunities
Develop opportunities to amplify voices and experiences of faculty, students, and staff at the University of Iowa and in CLAS