Bylaws Effects: Fostering Diversity Efforts across Departments

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Abalo Adewui  

Central Michigan University (CMU) houses about 20,000 students predominantly white. However, CMU prides itself for championing diversity education and inclusion initiatives through various programs on the main campus and abroad through study abroad programs. There are several organizational units specialized in monitoring diversity education activities on campus. One of the units, where faculty is broadly represented is the Multicultural and Diversity Education Council (MDEC). It is an academic Senate Committee chaired with promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and equity in the curriculum. However, after years of efforts unresponsive to Central Michigan University's diversity, inclusion, and student recruitment and retention priorities, departmental bylaws are now being considered for the acknowledgment of faculty efforts in diversity education. While we are monitoring the effect of the bylaws, a teaching diversity self assessment instrument is developed to encourage faculty throughout departments to monitor their individual commitment to diversity education efforts. Participants will use insights from the CMU model and teach diversity self assessment instrument at their own institutions.