Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) has been charting a new path forward in equity-centered campus transformation—not only for the division but also for the entire University of Utah community.

The Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Strategic Plan and the Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Strategy Council (EDISC) are among many firsts for the university and will organize a collective effort toward an equitable and inclusive campus. As part of the strategic plan, four strategic pillars have been developed to inform the work of the EDISC.

The EDISC is comprised of a representative from each college, division, unit and organization at the University of Utah to lead in the development and alignment of equity, diversity and inclusion efforts by implementing shared equity leadership practices across the university.

EDISC engaged in a fast-paced, four-month shared equity leadership (SEL) session, conducted by New Leadership Academy Director Amy Fulton, to develop a shared language, practices and values for collaboratively working to ensure equity is imbedded throughout the U’s structures and systems. The council appointed working groups, with assigned leads from EDI, to focus on the strategic pillars. See below for each pillar and its lead.

The working groups are tasked with identifying specific areas that produce barriers to success, belonging, engagement or equity, and each strategic pillar will be discussed further as part of the upcoming Friday Forums on Racism in Higher Education series.

The EDISC will also consider other matters, such as available resources, accountability, implementations and Operation Bold Transition alignment before making its own recommendations. With this cohesive shared equity leadership approach, the University of Utah will become more diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist through its policies, practices and programs.

Written reports will be publicly shared via the EDISC webpage when available.

The EDISC and its working groups gathered in May 2022 to discuss aspects and their collective thoughts on successfully transforming the University of Utah into an equity-focused institution. As an outcome of this strategy retreat, the four working groups are completing the following prompts in preparation for making recommendations to EDISC:

1. What challenges come along with leading together with the lens of equity (e.g., individual challenges, institutional or team challenges, systematic challenges, etc.)?
2. How can we work together to navigate these challenges?
3. How can shared equity leadership help us navigate these challenges?
4. What can we produce and model to help our colleagues navigate these challenges?
5. How do you envision ways the SEL model might further facilitate your and your team’s equity goals and aspirations as they align with the college?

The working groups will consult with their colleagues and teams to obtain information and encourage open discussion. This might include, but is not limited to, organizing open meetings, questionnaires, targeted discussions and participating in staff meetings. A drafted report shall be shared for discussion at a dedicated faculty/staff meeting, after which a final report will be drawn up to include considerations and justifications for recommendations in terms of strategic importance, fit to the university and internal/external community context.

Final recommendations will be shared with the EDISC in Fall Semester 2022.