Chancellor Kristin Sobolik concluded the fall semester’s first week of classes by delivering her annual State of the University Address. During her address Chancellor Sobolik recognized 19 faculty and staff members with awards recognizing their contributions to the campus in various fields.

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Steven J. Berberich shared details of each awardee’s accomplishments. Berberich shared that, “Universities are defined by their faculty and staff, and great universities are defined by having engaged teachers, scholars and staff who bring new energy, ideas, perspectives and partnerships to our students, to each other and to the university.”

Continue reading Chancellor Recognizes Contributions of Inclusive Excellence at State of the University Address →

The end of the semester and the holidays can mean additional stressors.  If you could use some support, the new EAP is there for you!  Our new EAP program is administered by Optum Live & Work Well and offers free confidential support and other on-demand resources 24/7 by calling (866) 248-4094 (Access Code: UMISSOURI) or visiting www.Liveandworkwell.com 

For more information about the services that are now available to UMSL employees, please visit: the UM System Total Rewards page.

Click here to download UMSL EAP Flyer . Please share with your colleagues!

If you need help resolving a workplace issue or conflict with a colleague, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers  Conflict Resolution & Mediation Services to assist you!

In celebration of UMSL’s 60th year serving the St. Louis region, UMSL’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is proud to continue its efforts to enhance the capacity of local companies, organizations, and agencies to build inclusive workplace cultures.  The Chancellor’s Certificate in Advancing DEI in the Workplace is a fully on-line non-credit bearing course open to all professionals in the St. Louis Region.   The cohort will consist of no more than 30 people from a variety of job sectors, backgrounds, and experiences.  A great opportunity to learn, engage, and network!

The next session will start on January 22 and run through June 14, 2024.

Click here for more information and registration. 

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is partnering with MU Extension to offer:

Diversity 101:  DEI in the Academic Workplace
Fully online professional development course
January 23-June 7, 2023

This course is free and open to all UM System employees, so it presents a unique opportunity to engage with folks from all four campuses, as well as Extension faculty and staff from around the state.

In this highly interactive online course, you will gain knowledge, awareness, and communication skills for providing leadership around diversity and inclusion issues; working more effectively with people from backgrounds different than your own; and for making our campuses more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.  This peer-learning centered course is designed to engage people who are new to the topic as well as those who had more exposure to these topics and issues.

Full participation in the course involves review and reflection of the content (on Canvas) so that you can actively participate in one online (asynchronous) dialogue per module (total of 9). There are also four live Zoom dialogues (February 1, March 8, April 26, and June 7).  Participants will earn a digital badge for completion of the course requirements.

Click here for more information and registration.

The Chancellor’s Cultural Diversity Council (CCDC) is seeking nominations for the Chancellor’s Inclusive Excellence-Celebrating Diversity Award. The award recognizes the contributions of individuals who promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their respective work at the institution. This award celebrates faculty and staff members who embody the university’s commitment to a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment. The recipient of this award will receive $1,000 and will be honored at the Chancellor’s State of the University Address.

Members of the campus community are invited to nominate individuals:

• Who serve as advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the interpersonal, departmental and/or institutional level;
• Who demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion at UMSL and/or in the community through research, teaching, service and/or collaborative partnerships;
• Who exhibit a commitment to creating a culture of inclusion within their areas of influence; and/or
• Who have implemented an initiative, project and/or program that cultivates/advances/models diversity, equity and inclusion at UMSL or within the community.

The deadline to nominate an outstanding faculty or staff member for the Chancellor’s Inclusive Excellence-Celebrating Diversity Award is July 11th!

Please submit the nomination here:

For questions, please contact the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at odei@umsl.edu.

ODEI invites you to dedicate some time this summer to your personal and professional growth & development and earn a few digital badges along the way!  We are offering in-person, on Zoom, and self-paced learning opportunities.

Click here to download the schedule or follow the links below. ODEI Summer Professional Development 2022

Core Concepts Series

This introductory level series provides an opportunity to learn about foundational concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion in a judgement-free zone.  Participants will earn a digital badge upon completion of the session evaluation.  You have the option to take each session in person or on Zoom. Click here for information and registration.

Self-Paced Learning

If you prefer unscheduled learning, check out our offerings of courses and resources for self-paced learning.

Thanks to the generous support of the National Science Foundation for UMSL ADVANCE, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is pleased to announce Equity Advisor Training in Summer 2022.  To help UMSL achieve our Inclusive Excellence and ADVANCE initiatives and goals, Equity Advisors serve as a resource to support faculty and staff committee work by providing guidance for best practices in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of high-quality faculty and staff.  Equity advisors provide an equity-lens regarding gender, race, ethnicity, and other dimensions of identity so that search, promotion, and other academic processes are equitable and inclusive across all departments/units, including those in STEM.

Click here to learn more!