Goal 2: Recruitment & Retention

In Year Five, amidst the global pandemic, the Center for Educational Outreach (CEO) partnered with the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), ITS, Children on Campus and the University Outreach Council. The goal was to sustain outreach efforts by CEO and University Outreach Council members in support of underserved K-12 students and educators in the state. CEO also increased its technical infrastructure to bolster virtual and hybrid initiatives by designing and creating sustainable virtual and digital companions. These included the launch of three CEO pilot programs (Ecoach, Gradecraft and Virtual Wolverine Express) in conjunction with CAI to increase impact statewide. In the year ahead, plans call for expanding the Explore Canvas Catalog and providing continued support for any new requirements of the Children on Campus policy.

In Year Five, the U-M ADVANCE Program conducted research to help the university better understand faculty concerns and improve overall retention rates. Our interview studies pinpoints and describes key factors that influence faculty departure. These factors include unit climate, research support and resources, opportunities for mentoring and leadership and family needs. See the report executive summary or or see this synopsis. Focus groups including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) faculty additionally point to issues such as high levels of service, including so-called “invisible” service, challenges navigating perceived  racism on campus and pressure to secure an outside offer. Moving forward, ADVANCE will continue to take advantage of other opportunities to address climate, such as through its RISE Committee, various workshops, an ongoing collaboration with the CRLT Players and partnerships with schools and colleges.

In March, the Women of Color Task Force (WCTF) hosted its 39th annual career conference virtually. All U-M staff, faculty and students, as well as the general public, were invited to this inclusive professional development event, which drew more than 1,100 attendees. The opening program keynote by Corie Pauling, Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for TIAA and U-M alum, focused on strategies for creating inclusive anti-racist workspaces. This was followed by a nationally renowned panel of health care experts—all of whom were women of color—responding to questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. The closing keynote program featured a legislative panel comprising U.S. state representatives: the Honorable Rashida Tlaib, MI-13, and the Honorable Lisa Howze, former state representative and Davenport University Vice President for Strategic Partnerships. Founded in 1979, WCTF provides professional development, networking and training opportunities for U-M employees, focusing on the specific needs of women of color staff. There are currently 100+ U-M staff members representing all three campuses on the U-M Women of Color Task Force.