Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Action Plan

Announced in June 2020, Ohio Wesleyan's Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Action Plan is intended to create meaningful and immediate change on campus.

These actions, focused on four key areas, involve making positive changes to:

• The structure and policies we use to strengthen equitable and inclusive practices.
• The ways we deliver our core mission of teaching and learning.
• The ways we recruit and retain students and employees.
• The measures we use to ensure that our campus climate affirms clearly and boldly the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To share suggestions for additional Action Plan updates, please use the DEI Improvement Form.

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September 2024

Academic Affairs Division

Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI)

CDI conducted a full-day workshop where faculty and campus leaders learned and practiced proven constructive dialogue techniques. Programming for students, staff, and faculty continues this fall with a range of virtual and in-person training, including a Constructive Dialogue Certification program, a first-time offering from CDI. Additional programming includes:

• Perspectives, a three-hour virtual training session for all students, faculty, and staff.
• Foundations in Facilitating Dialogue, a five-hour, in-person workshop.
• Advanced Dialogue Facilitation Certification, 20 hours of virtual training over five sessions.
• Student Peer-to-Peer (P2P) application of Perspectives training, during the fall Connection Conference.
• Responding to Campus Crises, an eight-hour in-person workshop.
• President and Cabinet Leadership Institute, in Washington, D.C.
• CDI in-person pilot program on dialogue related to the Israel/Palestine Conflict.
• Faculty workshops:
  • Setting and maintaining ground rules (September): Which ground rules should you set? How do you negotiate them with your students? How often should you reference them across the semester?  
  • Interpreting CDI principles within a DEI framework (October): What is similar? What is the difference between DEI strategies and CDI principles? How do you incorporate both?
  • Intervening when ground rules are broken (November): How do you know when to intervene? What are the best strategies for intervention? We will use scenarios and practice actual language.

Retention Initiatives: Moving the Needle and Academic Status Committee introduced equity-minded approaches to replace the term "probation" and to provide structured academic and personal support rather than mandatory dismissal after a semester of academic struggle. To support the new policy, the Sagan Academic Resource Center developed two courses aligned with the new requirements to aid students in academic distress.

Holistic Advising Support Model: Having a centralized hub for student inquiries has improved advising and communication strategies. The official academic alerts sent to students have been reframed to present a psychologically attuned approach shown by research to support student engagement. The approach incorporates clear action steps, an emphasis on learning, and the message that students belong and can succeed at Ohio Wesleyan, thereby increasing the number of students who successfully appealed academic dismissal.

Faculty Cohort Hire 2024-2025: This is the fourth consecutive cohort/cluster hire to foster innovative approaches to interdisciplinarity, pedagogical flexibility, and inclusive teaching. We hired five tenure-track faculty in the following areas:

• American and multi-ethnic literature (English)
• Organic chemistry (Chemistry)
• Exercise science (HHK)
• Accounting (Economics and Business)
• Neuroscience (Biological Sciences and Psychology)

Fall Connection Conference: The third annual conference features more than 40 sessions highlighting student engagement with OWU's signature program. New offerings include the U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition (USEC) at OWU, Athletics and the Connection, and Peer2Peer student engagement opportunities -- part of the campuswide Constructive Dialogue initiative. Claflin University leaders will lead a Q&A session about how OWU's Partnership creates co-curricular opportunities for students at both institutions and will help judge the Entrepreneurship Competition.

International and Off-Campus Programs: Faculty and staff help to create the GLCA program Engaging Multilingual, Culturally Diverse Students; English for Academic Purposes courses see their highest enrollment (10) since 2016.

Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• The DEI Campus Book Club is currently reading:
  • Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone by Astra Taylor.
  • Reckoning: Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Necessity of Social Movements by Deva Woodly.
  • We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For by Eddie Glaude Jr.
• Continued to coordinate Bishops of Color and Mosaic – faculty and staff affinity groups – which meet over the semester.
• Worked with the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS) to run the second year of our Campus Climate Assessment centering DEI that had its first iteration in January 2024.
• Participating in ongoing planning for the upcoming second Melvin Van Peebles Symposium, which will take place in spring 2025.
• Constructive Dialogue Institute: Providing all-campus faculty, staff, and student training and certification programs (in-person, off-site, virtual) on civil discourse.
• Leading the OWU/Claflin University Advisory Boards.
• Working through Bishop Elevate with First-Generation College Students to:
  • Employ Four Bishop Elevate Interns in the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer for Academic Year 2024-2025.
  • Pilot the Bishop Elevate Summer Internship Program, which employed two full-time interns over the summer and included attendance at the National Conference on Race and Diversity in Learning at The Ohio State University, two travel-learning opportunities, and travel to Denison University for an Open Resources workshop.
• Assisting with programming initiatives, collaborations, and support:
  • Annual MLK Celebration with Delaware Community MLK Planning Committee.
  • Latine Excellence in Research Series. Three individual events centering the research of Latine OWU Faculty: Dr. Andrea Suria, Dr. Nathan Rowley, and Dr. Glenda Nieto-Cuebas.
  • Support and attendance at Office of Multicultural Student events.
  • Support and attendance at First-Gen/Bishop Elevate events.
  • Passive Programming in Merrick Hall for Identity Months: Disability Awareness and Latine Heritage.
• Publications and Presentations:
  • Dailey, P.M., Chisebe, D. (2024) Interdisciplinary Co-Teaching: Bridging the gap between Internationalization, DEIB and the classroom. 2^nd Annual Reimagining the Academy Conference with Miami University, Kent State University, and Bowling Green State University.  Miami University, Oxford, OH.

Enrollment Division

Community-Based Organizations, Access Organizations, and Partnerships (Summer 2024):

• I Know I Can and Columbus City School District Leadership: Senior leadership from I Know I Can and Columbus City Schools visited the OWU campus for a tour and discussions with leaders from Bishop Elevate, Career Connection, and Admission. The focus is strengthening our existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and enhancing our partnership within the Columbus area.
• Bottomline Organization: The Executive Director of Bottomline, a nationally recognized access organization supporting students in Chicago, New York, Ohio, and Boston, visited OWU. We explored potential partnerships that provide unique learning opportunities and support systems, such as Bishop Elevate, Summer Bridge, and Career Connection, to help their students thrive and succeed beyond higher education.
• Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and GearUp: OWU hosted the ODHE Summer Youth Leadership Summit, welcoming 120+ students and 30+ staff/counselors. ODHE has verbally committed to hosting the 2025 summit at OWU. We are working to develop further partnerships with GearUp schools, including small group visits and other student engagement opportunities.
• Chicago Scholars: We signed an MOU with Chicago Scholars and participated in their special partners' college fair. We plan to host dedicated visits for Chicago Scholar students featuring college workshops and meet-and-greet sessions.
• Montgomery County Ohio College Promise (MCOCP): We are reviewing the MOU with MCOCP to explore a potential partnership. MCOCP provides grant funding, resources, and college planning support for participating students.

Small Group Campus Visits (Fall 2024):

• As of Aug. 26, 2024, we have received campus visit requests from six area high schools and anticipate hosting up to 20 small group visits this fall. Each visit will include a campus tour, an admission overview, a student panel, and interactions with university partners such as Career Connection, Bishop Elevate, and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). Most groups will be transported via the OWU-branded mini-bus.

First-Generation/Multicultural Admission Events (Fall 2024):

• Information Session and Global Majority Block Party: In partnership with OMSA, we have scheduled a First-Generation/Multicultural information session that includes an admission overview and presentations/panel discussions featuring the Chief Diversity Officer, Bishop Elevate Director, and other notable OWU community members. Afterward, students and families will participate in the Global Majority Block Party to connect with university staff, community partners, and student organizations.

Finance and Administration Division/Human Resources Office

• Human Resources introduced an all-employee professional development session titled: "Thriving Through Change and Conflict: Strategies for Success" facilitated by Dr. Ashley Kennard, OWU Journalism and Communications Assistant Professor. Part One, offered on Aug. 19, was well attended and received strong positive responses from attending employees. Dr. Kennard will facilitate Part Two on Jan. 14, 2025.
• Human Resources has transitioned student job postings to the OWU Career page and begun to automate the application process and new student worker onboarding process.
• Human Resources continues to partner with the OWU Strengths Finder Strategic Team. Human Resources now offers the professional-level Gallup Strengths Assessment to all new employees.
• Finance and Administration Division staff continue to serve on the OWU DEI Council and Staff Council, and to support DEI initiatives and programs.

Student Engagement and Success Division

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs

• Support of the Feminism Club
• Beyond the Binary: Exploring the Depths of Transgender Identity (Panel)
• Claflin University Partnership
• President's Council
• Lavender Graduation
• Kushinda Graduation
• National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) conversation
• Sustained Dialogue Institute
• OWjL Camp Counselors DEI Training
• Summer Bridge
• Residential Life Fall Training
• The Bishop Way Facilitator
• Global Majority Block Party
• Welcome Week Drag Show

Bishop Elevate

• First-Gen Graduation
• First-Gen Finals Prep Workshop (with SAGAN Academic Resource Center)
• OSU National Conference on Diversity, Race & Learning
• Nancy Bihl Rutkowski Leadership Program Coach
• First-Gen OWU Reception

Chaplain's Office

• Annual Interfaith Baccalaureate Service and Religious Life Awards
• Interfaith Leadership Summit through Interfaith America in Chicago
• DEI Training for Camp Oh-Wooo Leaders
• Passover Gift Bags for Jewish Students, Faculty, and Staff
• Queer Christian Discussion Group in collaboration with Counseling Services
• Facilitated Religious Festival Attendance for Hindu Students
• Facilitating Fall DEI Book Club on Democracy and DEI
• DEI Dialogue at New Faculty Orientation (collaboration)
• Member of the Claflin/OWU Action Team

Community Service Learning

In keeping with the commitment articulated in the Delaware County Promise – and honoring our tradition of engaging students in service through tutoring students with learning deficits attributable to poverty, racism, and disparities in health and education – Ohio Wesleyan is pursuing private bridge funding to support the Bishop Scholars program. To date, proposals have been submitted to the following entities:

• The Delaware County Foundation
• Harry C. Moores Foundation
• The Columbus Foundation's Siemer Family Foundation

Additionally, the Community Service Learning Center is in conversation with OWU's International and Off-Campus Program Department and the Delaware City School District to explore new ways to improve the capacity of OWU students (through formal TESOL instruction) to tutor and mentor Early English Language Learners.

Counseling Services

• Facilitated mental health and wellness skill-building workshops.
• Facilitated mental health presentation and discussion with Bridge Program Mentors.
• Facilitated growth meetings with Bridge Program Scholars.
• Collaborated with Residential Life for RA Training.
• Participated in Bishop Way New Student Welcome.
• Collaborating with Chaplain's Office for Queer Christian Discussion Group.
• Facilitating weekly Back-to-School support group.
• Participating in CDI trainings.

Public Safety

• Provided safety upgrades to the paratransit vehicle to improve visibility and safety of students loading/unloading from the rear compartment.
• Provided an overnight camping experience for Summer Bridge participants centered on being helpful and connecting with nature.
• Improved the parking permit process for individuals with temporary accessibility needs that apply through either the Athletic Trainers Dept. or the Accessibility Services Office.
• Hosted Community Day tailgate Sept. 7 at the OWU vs. Otterbein football game.
• All Public Safety personnel will be required to complete the CDI fundamentals training. Assistant Directors and Director will be completing the advanced training courses.
• Assistant Director Christopher Mickens serves on the DEI Council and the President's DEI Advisory Committee.

Student Involvement Office

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Informational, April 17.
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Welcome Luncheon, April 24.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Informational, April 25.
• Events planned by cultural and identity-based organizations:
  • Revival, Rafiki Wa Afrika
  • VIVA X BMF Culture Mashup, VIVA
  • Women in Genetics Lecture Series, Genetics Club
  • Da Cookout, Black Student Union
• Hosted the Student Involvement Fair on Aug. 29 with over 70 student organizations including National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations.

University Advancement Division

Career Connection and OWU Connection: 

• With donor support, Mindy Agin has assumed First-Generation-specific career coaching responsibilities. She partners closely with Thea Smekens, Director of First-Generation Student Success. Together, they are hosting two career-specific events over the next two months.
• Claflin University Partnership:
  • Claflin partners are participating in the U.S. Entrepreneurial Competition as judges of the student track on Sept. 26, 2024, during the OWU Connection Conference.
  • Hosting two OWU alumni and a Claflin administrator for an OWU Connection Conference session: "See you at CU: OWU's sister school Claflin University." Two OWU Class of 2023 alumni who are now graduate students at Claflin will share the impact of the sister school partnership and the resulting pathway to graduate school.
• Over $22,000 awarded in OWU Connection grants to students from underrepresented populations, this far, this academic year.
• OWU Connection reduced barriers associated with completing grant funding requests, increasing the ease with which all students can access financial support for OWU Connection experiences.
• Ross Art Museum is working intentionally to create a more representative collection and student engagement opportunities:
  • Added 13 African-American Artists and eight female artists to the collection. 
  • Planned 2024-2025 exhibition programming that includes:
    • Cuban American photographer Tony Mendoza, October 2024.
    • Culture Push loan from Art Bridges of Native American painter Fritz Scholder, Hollywood Indian, October 2024.
    • Jamaican-American painter Alicia Brown , January 2025.
  • Visiting Artist for 2024-2025
    • African American painter Lance Johnson will connect with the First Year Seminar, November 2024.
  • Support of the Melvin Van Peebles Symposium
    • The Ross is exploring opportunities to provide exhibitions and experiences that support the symposium in March 2025.
• The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship 
  • Launched a modest grant program to support women in entrepreneurship. Thus far $5,000 has been awarded to female entrepreneurial students to help advance ideas, conduct research, and create prototypes.

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