Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sense of Belonging Positive Action Team | Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion

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 the 2022-23 academic year, PAT will focus on implementing Michigan Tech Policy 1.13, Preferred First Name and Personal Pronouns. Four task groups are working on the project, Technology, Policies and Procedures, Training, and Communication. PAT expects that the rollout will occur in spring 2023, and further information will be forthcoming when available.

Chair

Wayne Gersie

Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Research Assistant Professor, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
Pronouns: he, him, his

vpdi@mtu.edu
906-487-1599
Administration Building 502

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.

Michael Blanco, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Operations

Gabriel Jesus Escobedo, Director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Emmett Golde, Director of 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, Associate Director of Residence Education

Stefanie Sidortsova, Executive Director for Communications, University Marketing and Communications

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

Spring 2022

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

Fall 2021

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:
1. new pool steps to increase accessibility
2. equipment forcampus barber shop to serve multicultural clients
3. 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.

Spring 2021

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.