DEI Campus Plan

Progress

The DEI Campus Plan committee and Sasaki have identified Phase 1: Discovery and Analysis, a broad investigation to understand current conditions, key issues and planning drivers. Key tasks include, among many others, assemble and review baseline information, consult with various stakeholders and start listening sessions and campus tours.

Project 10: Multicultural Space and Project 12: DEI Campus Plan collaborated with Sasaki to release a joint survey to better understand how campus spaces are used and how they contribute to feelings of belonging and inclusivity. The survey gauged various accessibility needs, solicited recommendations from the community regarding campus spaces and will help inform the broader DEI Campus Plan as the work transitions into Phase 2 and beyond. 

The survey received more than 100 responses in its first day. 

Committee Members

• Julie Balog
• David Beach
• Kelvin Bright
• Dall Clark
• Carlos Cooper
• Jason Hope
• Diego Reyes (Student Representative)

• Andrew Smith (Assistant Provost for Student Well-Being)

• Mary Vosevich (Vice President for Facilities Management/Chief Facilities Officer)

• Serenity Wright (Director, Honors Pathway Programs, Gatton College of Business and Economics)

As announced at a previous meeting of the board of trustees, the project has been approved, and the Project 12 team has selected world-class design firm Sasaki to assist in the development of a defined diversity and inclusivity campus plan.

In fall 2020, the university contracted with best-in-class consulting firm Sasaki to embark on this project, which will produce an overall plan for the university’s infrastructure with a focus on inclusion and diversity. To that end, Sasaki has engaged in a three-phase process. The goal of Sasaki’s process is to formulate a plan that moves the campus toward a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable infrastructure and topography under the premise that inclusion and equity will support diversity.

In phase three, which is just underway, Sasaki, under VP Vosevich and Dr. Smith’s leadership, will continue to work with stakeholders from around the campus community toward a DEI vision and framework related to the campus as well as an implementation strategy. In this phase, cost estimates will be determined for each of the projects recommended in the plan. 

As is the case with any strategic planning, especially those focused on infrastructure, the changes that will come from this plan (once finalized) will be long-lasting but will take significant time to implement. However, the strategic approach, which will be outlined by the Project 12 team upon completion of Sasaki’s work, will have an immediate impact on the campus community as well as a long-term one.

Phase One: Sasaki assembled and reviewed baseline information, identified key stakeholders, circulated a survey to stakeholders from around the university community, analyzed the current spaces and topography which make up the university campus, and most importantly engaged in community-wide listening sessions. The listening sessions included individual sessions with various identity groups from around the campus community.

Phase Two: Consultants met with stakeholders to perform visioning charrettes toward a more consistent recommendation based on the learnings from phase one’s listening sessions and survey results.