Weekly Three 08/18/21
Greetings Miami University,
Here is this week's diversity, equity, inclusion "weekly three" from the Office of Institutional Diversity:
One: DEI Implementation
Miami University Heritage Month Programming Launch
We are excited to launch a new Heritage Month Programming structure and webpage to promote and coordinate more systematic programming year-round. We invite all to learn more about the diversity within the Miami community and check out our new Heritage Month Programming. This effort builds on Miami’s commitment to inclusive excellence, including DEI Task Force Recommendation, Pillar 2: Cultural Consciousness which encourages the Miami University community to enhance our awareness, knowledge, and skills to enrich and renew our intercultural competence. It also supports Pillar 4: Structural and Resource Support, which asks us to add, adapt, and advance with fresh ideas and a commitment to become as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as we can be. Starting this academic year, OIDI will more systematically organize campus-wide programming, collaborate and support events across campus through a coordinated calendar for each month; amplify the promotion of events; and, when available, provide limited funding support for proposed events with campus-wide appeal.
View Heritage Month Programming
Religious Observances and Inclusive Scheduling
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion invites members of the Miami community to consult with a new OIDI narrative calendar of religious, secular, spiritual holidays and holy days. Advancing DEI Task Force Pillar Four, Structural and Resource Support, Recommendation 10 and supporting and building on DEI Taskforce Pillar 2: Cultural Consciousness, this narrative calendar is designed to complement the Academic Affairs calendar. It provides guidance to help avoid scheduling conflicts, in line with our commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Focus Initiative
Focus is a new university-wide initiative by the Humanities Center, co-sponsored by the Provost's Office and the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Focus coordinates activities of many groups, centers, institutes, and departments to create a year-long exploration of an important, timely, “big idea” topic from multiple disciplinary perspectives. The Focus theme for 2021-2022 is Race and Racial Justice. Programming will engage the Miami University community in a sustained exploration of race as a social concept and of racism as a powerful and persistent feature of societies and social institutions, including Miami University.
"Behind the Scenes" Town Hall Sessions
This fall we invite the Miami community to join an expanded DEI Behind the Scenes Townhall Series, featuring Colleges and Deans. Schedule coming soon.
Two: Community Updates
Neepwaantiinki, Learning Together
Retiring Native American mascots can create new and enriching relationships between universities and Tribal Nations, writes Doug Lankford, Chief of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and Gregory P. Crawford, President of Miami University in an essay featured in InsideHigherEd.
In support of Miami’s long relationship with the Miami Tribe, and building on Pillar 4: Structural and Resource Support Recommendation 7, we encourage Miami community members to advance the use of Miami’s Land Acknowledgment by referring to it before a class presentation, conference, sporting event, public meeting, or university event.
Inclusive Writing Pedagogy Across the Disciplines Workshop Series
The Howe Center for Writing Excellence is sponsoring a 6-part workshop series. This workshop will feature various topics facilitated by national scholars and local Miami faculty. Through reading, discussion, and activities, the series is designed to help instructors become more aware of how these issues can affect their students and to take steps to implement change in their classroom practices. Although participants don't need to attend all sessions, the HCWE is promoting an HCWE Equity Challenge, providing professional development funds for anyone who attends at least 5 sessions and changes at least one classroom practice to be more inclusive. All faculty, staff, and grad students are welcome to attend and are eligible for the Equity Challenge.
Three: Celebrations & Recognition
Miami University Diversity and Inclusion Awards
We are excited to recognize and celebrate the 2021 DEI Award Winners; we invite you to click on and watch the DEI Awards Announcement recording and to mark your calendars for the October 8 Across the Divide Conference, where we will present the winners with their awards.
The DEI awards are given to both individual faculty and staff as well as university offices or divisions that have enhanced the diversity of our community and elevated inclusive excellence as a top priority at Miami. View the virtual 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Awards Ceremony.
Ray of Light Award Recipients
Distinguished Service Award Recipients
- The Farmer School of Business Student Organizations and Diversity, Director: Michelle Thomas
- The Enrollment Management and Student Success Inclusive Excellence Committee
Institutional Excellence Award
National Hispanic Heritage Month/Latinx Heritage Month at Miami University
Each year, the U.S. observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of those in our communities and beyond whose ancestors come from over twenty countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently, 18% of the U.S. population is of Hispanic/Latinx descent.
Miami University and OIDI will be holding Hispanic Heritage month/Latinx Heritage Month events throughout September and October. In efforts to promote allyship, a pillar of the DEI Task Force, The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion invites you to submit programming content (lectures, events, and initiatives) connected to Hispanic Heritage Month/Latinx Heritage Month. We encourage all members of our community to promote and participate in these events; please submit your event to the University Calendar and complete the Weekly Three Submission.
Upcoming Events
- Being Latinx in 21st Century Higher Education, September 15, 2021, 12pm-1pm
Gabby Rivera
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is proud to host Gabby Rivera as a guest speaker for Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. Rivera is an outgoing, outspoken creator invested in fostering better dialogue, inspiring radical creativity, and improving our most vulnerable communities. The author of Juliet Takes a Breath, she’s also the writer of the Marvel series America—featuring the first queer, Latinx teen-girl superhero, ever. The New York Times, Vogue, and beyond: and Marvel Studios and Disney+ just announced a new show based on the series. A small intimate meet-and-greet will be hosted virtually for a select group of students/student organizations at 8pm. CSDI, UNIDOS, Spectrum, and Sigma Lambda Gamma are co-sponsoring this programming.
Annual Latin American and Caribbean UniDiversity Festival
This year's UniDiversity Festival will take place on Friday, September 17, 2021, 5:30-9:00 pm, Oxford Uptown Parks High St. & Main St., Oxford, OH Alternative location in case of severe weather: Hall Auditorium, Miami University Oxford OH 45056. The UniDiversity Festival is a collaborative initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in our community, and it is also a chance to learn more about the valuable contributions of the Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean peoples and cultures. Every year the UniDiversity festival is the kick-off of a month full of activities at Miami University and Oxford Ohio. This community event is a portal for intercultural connections and civic engagement. The full program of events will be announced soon.
Friendly Reminder for Event Planning
As you plan events for the year, please consult the Religious Holidays and Holy Days calendar to avoid scheduling conflicts.
With Love and Honor,
Cristina Alcalde, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Professor, Global and Intercultural Studies
vpDiversity@MiamiOH.edu