Developing a Strategic & Action Plan to Increase Equity & Diversity

Ryan AllenAssistant Professor

Presentation Overview

• Humphrey School context

• Why a diversity plan?• Our process• Our plan• Implementation

Humphrey School of Public Affairs: Context

• Separate college• Five degree programs• Approximately 400 MA

students in residence• 35 tenured/tenure-track

faculty + 10 senior fellows

• Diversity Committee– Five working groups

Why a Diversity Plan?

• Frustration among students, staff & faculty

• Circle dialogues on race

• Change in leadership

• NASPAA Diversity Award (2011)

• Upcoming accreditation review (NASPAA)

Humphrey’s Diversity Strategic Planning Process

Our Plan

• Teaching & Curriculum

• Research

• Outreach & Community Service

• Faculty & Staff Retention/Recruitment

• Student Retention/Recruitment

• Climate

Implementation

• Unanimous adoption by faculty and Executive Council

• Dedicated staff for diversity affairs

• State of diversity annual event

• Agenda setting at Humphrey Diversity Committee

How Have We Done?

Successes

• Student focus groups on diversity in core curriculum

• Culturally responsive teaching workshops

• Defining diversity• Dashboard indicators

Challenges

• Racial diversity among faculty and students

• Tensions between international & domestic perspectives on diversity

• Raising student financial aid

• Evolving needs vs. prescriptive document