Diversity Action Plan

School of PPPM 2020-2021 Priorities and Implementation Strategies

College of Design Goal 1: Create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all

Goal 1 Current Implementation Strategies

• Promote discussions related to Equity and Inclusion (ongoing).
  • Fall graduate student orientation workshop led by Professors Melendez and Schlossberg
  • Fall graduate student orientation workshop on Teamwork.
  • Fall graduate student orientation session on Equity and Inclusion led by Equity and Inclusion led by Fatima Roohi Pervaiz, Director, UO Women’s Center
• Sponsor and co-sponsor speakers and events that support diversity of viewpoints, particularly those addressing race and ethnicity (ongoing).
• Launch peer groups to create communities for students (Started fall 2020; ongoing)
  • BIPOC peer group
  • LGBTQ peer group
  • Other potential peer groups being explored
• Survey all students annually about School of PPPM climate (ongoing)
• Host Listening Session each year to collect feedback on climate, promote listening and understanding, and identify actions (ongoing).
• Conduct climate survey that identifies faculty, student, and staff perceptions of equity and inclusivity. (On hold for 2020-21 pending guidance from College of Design DAP)
  • Utilize findings from cultural competency survey to have structured conversation within PPPM between students and faculty.
  • Revisit the scope of the PPPM Equity Initiative based on findings from the survey, this includes revisiting priorities and goals.
• Held separate listening session and social gatherings for international students to address unique issues facing this group (ongoing).

Goal 1 Past Implementation Strategies

• Funded Cultural Competency Report prepared by two PPPM Graduate Students [2017].
• Held Brave Space informal gatherings and other open discussions 2-3 times per term [2018-2020]. On hold for 2020-21.

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College of Design Goal 2: Increase the representation of diverse students, faculty, staff and community partners at all levels of the university.

Goal 2 Implementation Strategies

• Host new student welcome events for undergraduate students, involving current students, new students, and faculty (ongoing).
• Hire graduate and undergraduate students to work on the Equity Initiative with faculty and staff (ongoing).
• Prioritize funding to attract and retain high quality students from underrepresented backgrounds (ongoing).
  • Create better access to funding resources that will allow for equitable and inclusive recruitment of graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds.
  • Apply for funding for students from underrepresented backgrounds (e.g., Promising Scholar program)
• Create an EI Student Liaison Group as an equity work group open to all PPPM student to join, with emphasis on engaging undergraduate students (2020-21)

Goal 2 Past Implementation Strategies

• Proposed new Access and Equity faculty search that led to the hiring of two new underrepresented faculty (2017-18).
• Initiated recruitment conversations and direct hire strategies to recruit African American faculty (2017, 2018-19, 2020-21).
• Secured funding for graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds to recruit into program (Awarded grants in: 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018; Not successful in: 2014, 2020)

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College of Design Goal 3: Facilitate access to achievement, success and recognition for under-represented students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Goal 3 Implementation Strategies

• Reviewed annual data on recruitment and retention from Graduate School [not public due to federal confidentiality laws (ongoing)
• Prepared protocol for regular public reporting of multi-year of student recruitment and retention for public distribution (2020-21 EI working group)
  • Use recruitment and retention data to find student populations where retention rates can be improved
  • Investigate what resources are needed to improve retention.
• Revamp and restructure PPPM Advisory Board to include more diverse alumni and professionals (2020-21)
  • Establish a formalized mentorship program within PPPM open to all students but with a focus on connecting underrepresented students with underrepresented alumni mentors.
  • Identify other ways to connect diverse alumni to career panels, guest lectures and other events.

Goal 3 Past Implementation Strategies

• Prepared summary report of multi-year of student recruitment and retention for public distribution (2021)

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College of Design Goal 4: Leadership will prioritize and incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion in plans and actions.

Goal 4 Implementation Strategies

• Develop annual action plan (led by the Equity Initiative) based on annual student survey, Listening Sessions, and other student feedback. In 2020-21, this action plan was integrated with the College of Design Diversity Action Plan (ongoing since 2014)
• Review curriculum across undergraduate and graduate programs (2020-21)
  • Review themes across PPPM curriculum at fall retreat
  • Compile topics, readings and assignments related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Share information about discussion topics and exercises.
  • Identify needs, gaps, areas of overlap, and themes across classes.
• Identify resources, reading lists, and materials to incorporate greater diversity of authors, topics, and class discussions (2020-21)
• Review courses addressing international topics to identify gaps and areas of overlap (Fall 2020)
• Review websites and externally facing information related to diversity, equity and inclusion, including:
  • Updating School mission and themes (completed Spring 2021)
  • Developing Equity Initiative website (in progress)

Goal 4 Past Implementation Strategies

• Review curriculum for diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Schoolwide: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020
  • MCRP Program: 2016, 2018, (and minor updates)
  • MNM Program: 2020, 2021
  • MPA Program: 2020, (and minor updates)
  • Undergraduate Program: 2020
• Amend tenure and promotion criteria to explicitly note faculty roles in addressing Equity and Inclusion (2017)
• Include faculty reporting of Equity and Inclusion activities in annual reports and merit reports, and incorporate into faculty review process [since 2017]. Note: annual reports include activities specific to PPPM and participation in UO or external events.