Conversations that Matter: Has Education Become Political?
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Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Unity is not uniformity
Our Mission: The Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OIDEI) is the driving force behind CMU’s commitment to creating a culture of belonging. The work of our division emerges in the expansion of institutional policy, procedure, and practice as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.
Our Vision: We aim to advance Central Michigan University as a pluralistic educational community that fosters growth and transformation in action and thought.
Diversity Education is provided for staff, faculty, students, and community members on cultural competency in the classroom, on campus, and within the community.
Our Values:
Advocacy
The Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OIDEI) carries a long tradition of holding and creating space for individuals and communities to amplify their voices; express their needs and concerns; and participate in social action. As populations continue to diversify on and off campus, we are identifying new ways to ensure everyone has open access to the marketplace of ideas and experiences made readily available at Central Michigan University.
Allyship
True allyship is reflected in an institutional attitude where acceptance, culture, and equity are the expectation. OIDEI sets the standard for encouraging authentic allyship by providing education and professional development that ensures institutional and individual allyship is not performative. When we fully step into the ally space, we do so understanding the ways in which it benefits the whole.
Belonging
The Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strives for a campus culture where everyone is welcomed and appreciated. We endeavor to achieve these goals through the cultivation of more inclusive praxis, curricula, pedagogy, programs, and policies to ensure a sense of security and belonging throughout campus.
Education
Education remains at the core of our work. Our office develops and cultivates resources that individuals or departments can utilize to improve their awareness and clarity of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging (DEIJB). Education that includes a DEIJB framework supports the confidence to act when needed. By applying this knowledge, we can all take part in the transformation of our campus culture to best reflect our universally shared values of dignity, respect and belonging.
Healthy Social Change
Growth that is positive, inspirational and fearless is significant to purposefully removing barriers to equity and feelings of belonging. Healthy social change is transformative and seeks to avoid harm. When harm occurs, healthy social change permits correction that restores and is nonretaliatory.
Leadership
Establishing diversity-conscious standards is essential to engaging in transformational leadership across the University. We provide leadership around DEIJB efforts, while recognizing and encouraging opportunities for collaboration across units. Solid leadership stands on the foundation of integrity, and we expect accountability to be a fundamental component of demonstrating principled leadership.