Diversity

The Michigan Program in Survey Data Science (MPSDS), housed at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, supports U-M ’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Planning Initiative.

The ISR DEI Committee oversees the implementation of the ISR DEI Strategic Plan, as well as the activities of four working groups that will focus on specific components of the plan.

Working Groups: Recognizing that implementing the ISR DEI plan requires a wide set of competencies and perspectives, and a great deal of time and effort, the DEI Committee will oversee the work of four working groups. The working groups will include representation from all centers and a variety of research tracks, job families and educational programs.

  • Staff Working Group: Focus on DEI-related issues like staff recruiting, development, promotion, and work climate.
  • Faculty Working Group: Focus on DEI-related issues such as recruiting, development, and promotion in research professor and research scientist tracks.
  • Educational Programs Working Group: Focus on DEI-related issues germane to ISR’s educational programs, including the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science, summer programs, PSC training programs, student research assistants, and postdoctoral scholars.
  • Director’s Advisory Committee on Community and Diversity (DACCD): Focus on DEI-related issues germane to ISR community engagement, including ways to facilitate barrier-free participation of all members, interaction across centers, and involvement in broader university and community.

The Institute for Social Research offers an Inclusive Research Matter Series.  The Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science works very closely with ISR in the scheduling of the Inclusive Research Matter Series.  This series signals ISR’s transparent and deliberate commitment to examining the role of inclusion in the research process. The idea for the seminar series arose from discussions within the DEI Education Programs Working Group focusing on the role of inclusion in research methodology. In this series, we will explore several topics including: – The measurement of constructs across intersectional identities – Assumptions and decisions that impact sampling, representation, and the selection of research topics.  Inclusive Research Matters Series past events are available for viewing.

The University of Michigan strategic plan implementation has seen significant progress, with new DEI initiatives being incorporated into many aspects of the university’s mission and operations. The progress is documented each year in an annual Progress Report, which is shared with the campus community each fall, as part of U-M’s Diversity Summit.  News and features event at the University of Michigan are consistently happening.

The academic excellence of our university is built on a foundation of diverse people and their experiences. The more committed we are to each other as a genuine community, one that celebrates all of its members and their different histories, the stronger we are as a university dedicated to improving society.  Our university has made great strides toward building a campus that embraces all staff, faculty and students, and we have much more work to do before we can say we are a truly just institution.  I want to affirm the importance of, and the need for, our next diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan–DEI 2.0. We will always work to open our doors to all and provide an engaging, supportive and inclusive environment – anything less is not Michigan. I look forward to working together as we move ahead.  Mary Sue Coleman