Weekly Three 08/25/21
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.
Learn more about the year’s Focus programming and events
"Behind the Scenes" Town Hall Sessions
In line with Pillar 5: Inclusion and Accountability, Recommendation 3, OIDI hosts “Behind the Scenes” Townhalls to provide insights and details of how DEI is embedded in the decision-making processes and practices of each division. This series has until now focused on Miami University’s President’s Executive Cabinet. This Fall we invite the Miami community to join an expanded DEI Behind the Scenes Townhall Series, featuring College Deans.
Two: Community Updates
Resources and Support
Many across our university community have been watching and reading with great concern about the situation in Afghanistan and those fleeing violence. As these events continue to unfold, our thoughts are with all those affected, including those with loved ones in or with ties to Afghanistan and service members who have served in Afghanistan and their families. During these difficult times, the Miami community continues to offer a variety of resources and support, including Student Counseling Services, the Center for Veterans Services, and Green Zone Training, which “helps faculty and staff understand and empathize with veterans by educating them about military culture and the struggles that veterans face as they transition from active duty military service to becoming a college student."
Miami Teach Partnership with Cincinnati's Aiken High School
College of Education, Health and Society Dean Jason Lane, Miami alumnus Rachel McMillian, and Miami University teacher recruitment program’s high school recruit Teri’Ana Joyner are featured in an article on Miami University’s role in increasing diversity, equity, inclusion efforts impacting the Ohio Public School system.
Graduate School’s Professional Development Series Advances Pillars of DEI Task Force
The Miami University Graduate School in advancing the DEI Task Force recommendations launches its fall Professional Development series, all graduate students are encouraged to attend. Sessions are 1-2pm in the King Library AIS Room or through Zoom. This series features sessions on “Strategies to Negotiate Dialogue Across Difference,” “Why Implicit Bias and Microaggressions Awareness Matters,” and “Writing Diversity Statements for Job Applications.”
Questions? Contact gradpd@MiamiOH.edu. An informational flyer will be attached to listserv email.
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.
View details about each session
Integrating DEI Into the Classroom: Expanding Our Teaching Toolkit
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 10:00 am - 11:30 am
In this CTE interactive workshop, participants will learn about DEI in relation to higher education, reflect on why DEI is an important element to center on in our classrooms, and, ultimately, brainstorm and develop concrete ways to build DEI into your own teaching toolkit.
Three: Celebrations & Recognition
Welcoming New GAs in the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
With the generous support of the Graduate School, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is excited to welcome Sati Williams (pictured on left) and Laura Carroll (pictured on right) as Graduate Assistants for the 2021-22 academic year. Carroll is pursuing a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. Williams is pursuing a doctoral degree in Social Gerontology. They will be assisting in the management of several projects, programming goals, and responsibilities in line with OIDI’s holistic mission and vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion and DEI Taskforce Recommendations. Please join me in officially welcoming Sati and Laura!
Sati Williams
Laura Carroll
Miami University Diversity and Inclusion Awards
We are excited to recognize and celebrate the 2021 DEI Award Winners.
We invite you to 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