At the MU College of Education & Human Development, we value diversity, equity and inclusiveness — inside and outside the classroom. We are committed to preparing teachers, educators and other professionals who can embrace different perspectives and respect individual differences. We also strive to create an environment where all students, faculty and professional staff feel not only welcome — but also safe and valued.

In recent years, the college has intentionally offered more diversity-related initiatives, programs and activities to increase the cultural competence of all members of the college community. In addition, the college is making a concerted effort to increase diversity among its student body, faculty and professional staff:

• Established The Bridge, a conversation space for students, faculty and professional staff to develop and expand their cultural knowledge, awareness and competencies. Activities and programming include research presentations, visiting scholars, workshops, movie and book discussion series, and more.
• Hired 87 new faculty since 2010, including 33 percent of tenure/tenure-track faculty from under-represented groups.
• Established a Diversity Committee in 2011 to provide leadership that fosters diversity and inclusion for all College of Education students, faculty and professional staff, which included the launch of the Commitment to Diversity Award in 2015.
• Established the Office of Recruitment and Retention in 2011 to increase the recruitment and retention of more students from diverse backgrounds.
• Created the Office of Global Engagement in 2012 to support new collegewide diversity-related initiatives and programs.
• Created the Office of Graduate Student Initiatives in 2012.
• Launched the Mizzou Ed Teach Abroad program in 2012 to provide Mizzou Ed students with international opportunities to learn about and participate in the educational systems of host countries while immersed in cultural settings that expand their understanding of local cultures.
• Created the Dorsey Leadership Academy in 2013 to provide leadership opportunities and other programming for future teachers from underrepresented groups or those who are the first in their families to earn a bachelors degree.
• Launched the National Alliance for Black School Educators in 2014, which received the Chancellor’s Excellence Award for Best New Organization.
• Launched the Mizzou Ed Weekenders program in 2014, a student-led partnership with diverse schools throughout the state of Missouri. Each experience combines the opportunity for participants to observe/assist with instruction in Mizzou Ed’s partner schools and serve the communities surrounding the school.
• Sponsored the first weeklong trip to Detroit in 2015 in partnership with Mizzou Alternative Breaks (MAB). Each year students assist in a local elementary school and after school program to learn about social inequities that directly impact the education system. In recent years, MAB trips have expanded to include Weekenders trips to St. Louis and Kansas City, with other locations planned.
• Counseling Psychology offers a minor and graduate certificate in multicultural psychology, supports the Coalition for Cultural Competency, offers a dual degree program with National Taiwan Normal University and Beijing Normal University, and offers graduate assistantship opportunities among other initiatives.
• Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis is committed to promoting an environment that affirms diversity, social justice, and cultural and global competence. ELPA faculty and students are active participants in The Bridge, and continue to establish research and teaching partnerships including the International Research Center for the Development of Education (CIIDE) with UNIMINUTO University in Colombia and summer workshops and international conference co-sponsorships with Prince of Songkla University in Thailand and Mizzou Ed.

Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Committee

Mission

The mission of the Diversity Committee is to provide leadership that will foster diversity and inclusion for all College of Education & Human Development students, faculty and professional staff. The Diversity Committee will promote transformative experiences and curricula that increase cultural competence and facilitate positive environments.

Responsibilities

The committee will:

• Serve as advisers who provide direction and feedback on diversity and inclusion efforts;
• Facilitate curricular improvement efforts in relation to diversity, equity, cultural competence and inclusion;
• Identify programs and events to enhance environments and to increase cultural awareness, respect and inclusion of all groups, including traditionally
  underrepresented groups based on culture, ethnicity, language, gender, disability, class and/or sexual orientation;
• Provide recommendations for measures to evaluate efforts in relation to Goal 4 of the strategic plan: Increase cultural and global competence of college personnel and students;
• Make decisions about which diversity-related events organized by student and campus groups to sponsor;
• Administer the process for student recognition of faculty and staff with the “Commitment to Diversity Award.”

Organization

Membership

The voting members of the Diversity Committee will include a faculty member from each department, four professional staff, one member from outside the college, one representative from the Graduate Diversity Council and one representative from the Undergraduate Diversity Council. In addition, the associate dean for academic affairs will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.

View Diversity Committee members on the Faculty Committees document.

Student Inclusion

The Diversity Committee will have corresponding Graduate and Undergraduate Diversity Councils made up of students from the college. Graduate and undergraduate students will apply to be members of these councils. The application process consists of a form including a personal statement, a resume and a list of faculty references.

Officers

The committee will elect two members to serve as co-chairs. Minutes will be taken by a professional staff member from the associate dean’s office or by committee members in rotation.

Operations of the Committee

The committee may elect to operate as necessary to address each of the responsibilities in its charge. In addition, it may address any other charges related to diversity as assigned by action of the  faculty or the Policy Committee.