As part of ongoing efforts to advance the University of Miami’s commitment to racial and ethnic equality, University of Miami President Julio Frenk announced several updates on a 15-point action plan announced last year to improve and build on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the University community.
On Monday during a webinar, he lauded the reinvigoration of the Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, welcoming its 2021-2022 members. He also announced that Juneteenth, now a federal holiday, will become an official University holiday.
“This group of more than 40 members from across the University of Miami community has put in long hours to bring attention to the ways that we can ensure our culture of belonging—where every person is valued and has the opportunity to add value—continues to grow,” Frenk said before thanking DEI committee co-chairs professor Marvin Dawkins and Renee Dickens Callan, assistant vice president for student life, for their commitment and efforts so far.
Callan; distinguished professor Donald Spivey, who is also Special Advisor to the President on Racial Justice, a Cabinet-level role created last year; and Charis Pitter, Student Government director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, each provided highlights of the work and initiatives being accomplished across the University, while addressing some of the challenges that are still being faced.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the progress we’ve made,” said Spivey, who has been with the University since 1993. “All of these efforts will help with the recruiting and retaining of Black students and faculty.”
These are some of the key updates on the University’s DEI efforts:
- The Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has added roundtable discussions to allow a sort of “central playbook” to bring faculty, staff, and students from all three University campuses together to share ideas, strategies, and goals. Their new website, https://www.dei.miami.edu/, aims to provide more transparency and promote educational and programmatic efforts across all schools, colleges, and units.
- The University’s Center for Global Black Studies, which has already conducted business planning and a teach-in, will celebrate its grand opening this year. It will promote research, scholarship, and the offerings of Black contributors locally, nationally, and abroad.
- Juneteenth will be officially recognized as an official University holiday.
- The University hired 14 new Black faculty members for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is a notable increase from the average of 2-5 Black faculty typically hired annually.
- The University will continue to focus its efforts on recruiting and retaining Black faculty members and increase the graduation rate of its Black students.
- A multicultural site on campus has been identified to provide a space for students to gather and celebrate diversity and all cultures. Renovation will begin in 2022.
- The 13 recipients who received $55,000 in the inaugural round of Racial Justice Grants have been heavily engaged with community leaders and nonprofit organizations to bring awareness and find solutions to issues that affect the Black community, such as educational and environmental disparities in the South Florida community. Updates will be posted on the DEI website soon, including the deadline for the next round of applications.
- An initiative aimed at Supplier Diversity, which opens doors to minority owned firms seeking to do business with the University, is well underway. More information is available at: https://supplier-diversity.miami.edu/.
