Diversity training is in the works as many Michigan State administrators work remotely, President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said. However, the COVID-19 pandemic might disrupt the timeline.
"Our original plan was to have something ready by the fall of this year," Stanley said. "and this I think would be an online training, initially that would be mandatory, from there we would morph into additional training that could take place in person for faculty, staff, as well as students."
Co-chairs of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee — Vennie Gore and Joseph Salem Jr. — and co-chairs of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Steering Committee — Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore and Luis Garcia — released in an email that they also continue to meet weekly from home.
"Originally, both committees planned an extensive engagement process this spring to ensure all voices — from students to staff to faculty to postdocs to alumni and others — would be heard," the email said.
Although their planned engagement sessions have been postponed, both committees will be moving forward on their initiatives.
They are asking the community to visit the feedback sections of the Strategic Planning site and DEI's sites in order to help define the missions and values of the university.
They plan to use that information to "examine the composition and success" of Michigan State's student body, faculty and academic staff as well as its formal curriculum and educational programs, the email said.
The Strategic Planning Steering Committee has been reviewing their values and is interested in hearing from the community over the next month on what values they feel could shape MSU's future.
"Despite the situation we find ourselves in, we still fully plan to engage with as many of our audiences and stakeholders as possible. Without knowing what the next few weeks will bring, we will be communicating about those engagement opportunities when appropriate," they said.
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