EDUCAUSE is taking action in supporting, encouraging, and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in-house and throughout higher education IT.
We are committed to elevating DEI as a crucial and strategic opportunity for EDUCAUSE members. We are working to engage and foster change in this critical area, weaving related content and formal learning opportunities into our program channels (e.g., conferences and events, Institute offerings, research, EDUCAUSE Review, and badging program).
Association Focus on DEI
In the first half of 2018, EDUCAUSE President and CEO John O’Brien convened the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force (educause.edu/DEITF) to help the association consider specific concrete actions in a number of areas to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in EDUCAUSE priorities, programs, and services for members and for the field. The task force comprised IT leaders from 14 different institutions and associations.
The task force strongly endorsed the DEI initiatives that the association had already launched and recommended EDUCAUSE continue or increase activities to elevate DEI awareness and capacity with 10 recommendations, several of which are already in progress.
In the coming months, EDUCAUSE will:
- Improve the breadth and quality of demographic data EDUCAUSE has about the diversity of its membership so that the association can better understand the experiences and needs of underrepresented groups as well as model and track changes in the makeup of its membership and community. Without this data, it is impossible to understand the dimensions of DEI challenges members and the association face or to track progress.
- Embed the Management and Leadership Institute curricula with DEI topics at levels appropriate to the audiences served.
- Provide online and face-to-face learning opportunities covering DEI topics in the EDUCAUSE Live! portfolio and at conferences (e.g., managing, leading, and working well across generations; anti-bias training; terminology fluency, etc.).
- Build on the workforce study to provide insight into the experiences of underrepresented members of our community, the impact of DEI initiatives at the unit and institutional level, and the challenges members are experiencing promoting DEI at their institutions.
- Expand age diversity by actively encouraging participation by young professionals. Millennials and younger generations are more demographically diverse than their older colleagues and highly value inclusive and diverse organizations. Younger leaders will add compelling stories, perspectives, and approaches to the DEI conversation.
- Leverage the association’s developing capacity to personalize communications to raise DEI awareness and connect new members to the communities that most interest them.
DEI at the 2018 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference
We recognize the importance of supporting the priorities of the greater higher education community, and DEI is a high priority across our colleges and universities. Therefore, our annual conference reflects this priority, with the theme of diversity, equity, and inclusion appearing in several places throughout the conference.
Keynote Address: Michele Norris, “Eavesdropping on America's Conversation on Race”
On Wednesday, October 31, at 8:00 a.m. in the Bellco Theater, Michele Norris will discuss The Race Card Project and how six-word snapshots paint a vivid picture of attitudes and experiences about race during a fascinating moment in history.
Annual Conference Programming
There are sessions throughout the conference programming devoted to DEI. Here is a community-curated DEI itinerary of related sessions and activities.
CIO Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This EDUCAUSE CIO commitment statement allows members of the community to publicly avow their intention to materially promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the areas they manage. The signatories acknowledge that all of our institutions thrive when we more closely reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Meet and Mingle | Diversity Interest Groups
Led by EDUCAUSE President and CEO John O’Brien, this event is an opportunity to meet with EDUCAUSE staff and colleagues who promote diversity in higher ed IT. Meet members of the EDUCAUSE community who share your interests, including participants from the Diversity in IT, Women in IT, and LGBTQIA community groups.
Visual Display: “Thought Spot on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”
To stimulate new thinking on diversity, equity, and inclusion, we’ve created an interactive “thought spot” display, featuring suggested reading on DEI and a space for community conversation. It’s one way we hope to create curiosity and open minds to new perspectives.
Microsoft Corporation Interactive Experience in the Community Central Hubs
At the Microsoft Learning & Inclusion Experience, guests interact with technology that shows them how one provider works to expand accessibility in education—for everyone.