The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sense of Belonging (DEIS) Positive Action Team
(PAT) is composed of Michigan Tech staff, faculty, and administrators charged with
implementing a range of fast-start DEIS initiatives.
For fall 2023 semester, PAT will focus on the implementation and launch of Michigan
Tech Policy 1.13, Preferred First Name and Personal Pronouns.
Personal Pronoun Identification Option Now Available
Faculty, staff and students at Michigan Tech have the opportunity to choose how to
identify themselves within the campus community through our new pronoun selection system. Everyone at Michigan Tech now has the option to choose how to identify at MTU by adding or updating an existing preferred first name or selecting pronouns
to be used across University records and communications systems, where feasible.
Michigan Tech is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming environment for all members
of the campus community. For additional information or support, please email vpdi@mtu.edu.
Chair
- Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion Operations
Team Members
Team members are strategically positioned to bring about positive change across the
University and to set the groundwork for progress in the future.
Paige Short, Associate Director of Operations, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Gabriel Jesus Escobedo, Director, Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Emmett Golde, Director, Enterprise Application Services
Sonia Goltz, Professor of Organizational Behavior, College of Business
Theresa Jacques, Registrar
Michelle Jarvie-Eggart, Assistant Professor, Engineering Fundamentals
Beth Lunde-Stockero, Executive Director, Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX
Alexandra Marshall, Director of Residence Education, Residence Education and Housing Services
Kelly Steelman, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
Shari Stockero, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development
Radheshyam Tewari, Associate Teaching Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Jeff Toorongian, Director, William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning
Previous Semester Summaries
Goal |
Description |
Current Status |
Corporate Partner Donations/DEI Corporate Speaker Series |
Cultivate relationships with corporate partners to sponsor DEIS initiatives and establish
a DEIS Corporate Speaker Series |
Not completed |
Public Safety Campaign |
- Publicizing/Promoting Values of Public Safety
- Coordinating with other local police agencies
- Developing better mutual understanding between police and community
|
#1 Completed
#2 & 3 Not completed
|
Facilities Inclusion Project |
- Better signage (to better communicate “all are welcome here”)
- Promote more gender-neutral restrooms on campus
- Promote more lactation rooms on campus
- Free hygienic materials in all restrooms
- Adaptive Trails
|
Not completed |
Expansion and coordination of Clothing Closet |
Work with outside partners and expand offerings to include women's interview clothing. |
Completed
(At the Career Clothing Giveaway event, over 900 pieces of clothing were given away
and over 250 students showed )
|
Faculty Project |
Create “DEIS Where to Go For What” website/document for faculty and academic units. |
Completed |
- Collaborated with Film Board to show films that align with various heritage-awareness
month recognitions.
"The Last Dual" planned for April 2022 for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
- Submitted successful funding proposals for Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment Fund (C2E2) proposals that will address diversity needs at Michigan Tech. Funded proposals:
- new pool steps to increase accessibility
- equipment forcampus barber shop to serve multicultural clients
- teleconferencing equipment for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion
- Developed a permanent location for the Clothing Closet in Douglass Houghton Hall for
the distribution of coats and other clothing items for cold weather.
- Established campus barber shop initiative in which a barber to campus who can serve
the needs of multicultural clients.
A barber now comes at least once per month during the academic term with a dedicated
space in the SDC with a barber chair and other equipment.
-
DEIS Positive Action Team launched with charge from President Koubek. Group met every
two weeks (February 12, 2021).
The team was brought together by President Koubek to fast start some needed DEIS initiatives
at Michigan Tech. Team members were appointed based on their ability initiate change
across the University and were Wayne Gersie (chair), Suzanne Sanregret, Joseph Cooper,
John Lehman, and William Roberts.
-
OVPDI at full strength with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) brought under
the umbrella of the OVPDI office and the hiring of new director of diversity and inclusion
operations and executive assistant (March 8, 2021).
Full staffing of OVPDI had been planned since fall 2020 and was seen as critical to
bringing about systemic change. Locating CDI under OVPDI provided for better alignment
of CDI's mission to Michigan Tech's DEIS goals.
-
OVPDI website launched (March 9, 2021).
Not only was the OVPDI website launched, but a separate page for the Task Force was
developed to keep the University informed about its goals and progress.
-
University-wide DEIS strategic plan submitted to the administration for review (March 22, 2021).
One of the key proposals of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion was developing
a University-wide framework for DEIS strategic planning, and the Task Force provided
input on this initiative. The purpose of strategic planning is to leverage DEIS throughout
the University, with all units involved in DEIS to plan important projects specifically
related to the needs of their unit.
-
Draft proposal for DEIS external advisory board created and circulated for commentary
(March 24, 2021).
An external advisory board, composed of alumni and other partners, was viewed as vital
to providing input and support for DEIS at Michigan Tech.
-
University-wide DEIS strategic plan approved by the President's Council and will now
move forward to the Dean's Council for review (April 20, 2021).
President's Council and Dean's Council support was viewed as critical to DEIS strategic
planning, and their review and approval was sought so that when DEIS unit planning
took place, it would proceed as a widely-endorsed initiative from the University's
leadership.
-
Telemental health supplemental counseling service announced to campus (April 28, 2021).
Mental health needs among students, especially during the pandemic, were viewed a
critical to the Task Force, and with its assistance, this initiative was launched
by the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being. Students now have 24/7 online access to mental health services.
-
Student DEIS Commission announced to campus as launching in fall 2021 (May 28, 2021).
In addition to the advisory board, the Task Force considered it the student voice
to be critical to DEIS at Michigan Tech. The Student DEIS Commission will operate
under the sponsorship of OVPDI and Student Affairs.
-
DEIS Alumni Advisory Board announced to campus and invitations sent to inaugural board
members for fall 2021 launch (June 22, 2021).
The DEIS Alumni Advisory Board had its first meeting this fall.
-
University-wide DEIS strategic plan completed and released to the MTU community (July 22, 2021).
Several units are now developing unit-based DEIS plans based on the University-wide
framework for DEIS strategic planning.