Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

In 2023, Central Michigan University released its five-year Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging Strategic Plan with three foundational priorities: equalize graduation rates; diversify faculty and staff; and foster a more inclusive community. Now, a collaborative team of leaders, faculty members and staff members is preparing to take an important step forward on the third priority with a new Inclusive Excellence training for faculty and staff.

Foster a more inclusive community

Shawna Patterson-Stephens, vice president for inclusive excellence and belonging at CMU, said the “A Call to Action” plan focuses on creating a culture that allows all university community members to thrive. Part of the plan involved developing and implementing trainings to strengthen the community’s understanding of issues relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging.

“For decades, we sought professional development and training for faculty, staff and senior leaders at CMU,” Patterson-Stephens said. “This module brings this element of the plan to fruition, taking us one step closer to supporting professionals who are skilled in cultural competency, connecting across difference and mediating conflict, particularly in moments of crisis.”

In April 2024, the CMU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to provide support for the immediate development of inclusive excellence training standards and requirements for every member of the university community, including for students, faculty, staff, administrators and Trustees.  

Leveraging CMU expertise

To create training that both met the goals of the five-year plan and aligned with CMU’s existing mission, vision and values, Patterson-Stephens held meetings throughout the summer with groups across campus including:

Patterson-Stephens then assembled a group of faculty and staff with expertise and experience related to strengthening inclusive learning environments. The curriculum development team convened by Patterson-Stephens included: 

The next step is to have the curriculum reviewed by faculty and staff with experience working with diverse groups, Patterson-Stephens said. She is currently convening a group of faculty, staff and administrators to assist with the review process, which she hopes to begin later this month. The overarching goal is to create training that will be accessible and applicable for people with many different levels of experience.

“We will each be starting from a different place, and that’s okay,” she said. “While some of us are experts in this subject matter, some of us are just beginning to gain exposure to many of the themes that we will cover together in this module. Consider this an opportunity to begin using common language that allows us to better connect with each other and open possibilities to conversations that may otherwise have been avoided due to fear or educational exclusion.”

Rollout to campus

Ensuring that all faculty and staff are able to access and complete the Inclusive Excellence training required partnership with CMU’s Office of Information Technology. Patterson-Stephens said Roy Schalke, assistant director of applications and systems integration, and Lucas Maxwell, an application administrator II, helped create space for the new training using CMU’s SuccessFactors platform.

Over the next month, Patterson-Stephens will work with university leaders to establish a timeline for the rollout of the new training and will partner with supervisors and managers university-wide to support its implementation.  She hopes everyone will approach the training with an open mind and a readiness to learn.

“We set the tone for the climate that is produced at Central Michigan University, and the ways we treat our students and ourselves matters,” she said. “Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging are priorities at CMU, and making a deliberate effort to inform our delivery of services is essential if we truly hope to reach, and surpass, our vision for our institution.”