Carnegie Mellon University

Integrated Innovation Institute

Engineering + Design + Business

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Integrated Innovation Institute

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At the Integrated Innovation Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, we're committed to engaging a diverse and connected global community, and to upholding the principle of equity, which, as a partner to excellence, is the foundation for ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have opportunities to succeed and thrive.

We define diversity, equity, and inclusion as:

Diversity

Diversity is recognizing difference and valuing that every individual is unique. This uniqueness is shaped by color, national origin, cognitive, emotional or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, genetic information, belief, veteran status, socioeconomic level, and other life experiences.

Equity

Equity is intentionally eliminating barriers and mitigating biases that prevent full participation and access to resources and networks for underrepresented groups across our faculty, staff and student populations.

Inclusion
Inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing process to increase awareness, empathetic understanding, and sense of belonging. Inclusion results in broadening perspectives and intentionally engaging historically marginalized groups to make our community a better place for all.
The iii Equity in Action Committee serves as the Integrated Innovation Institute's departmental diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. Consisting of iii staff, Program Directors, and student fellows, the committee is committed to implementing strategic objectives and action items to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive department. Three subcommittees within the department guide our DEI efforts across defined objectives: Transparency, Accessibility, and Community. Subcommittee's objectives may change over time as the priorities and landscape of DEI at the institute adapt.

As a department within Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering, the iii's DEI goals, objectives and action items relate directly back to the College's 5-Year DEI Strategic Plan.
Mission Statement: To achieve academic and professional excellence through diverse representation fostered by an equitable and inclusive culture that enables students, faculty and staff to reach their full potential.

  • Objective 1: Engage everyone in DEI efforts.
  • Objective 2: Foster an equitable and inclusive environment.
  • Objective 3: Achieve and maintain diverse representation.

Subcommittees & Strategic Plan Objectives

The iii's three strategic plan objectives derived from a department-wide conversation guided by the following prompts: 

  • What does engaging everyone in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts look like?
  • What does fostering an equitable & inclusive environment look like?
  • What does achieving diverse representation among faculty, staff, and students look like?

As a result, three areas of focus were identified:

Transparency

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 Increase transparency of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, outcomes, and ways to accept input throughout the iii community.

View Action Items
Subcommittee Staff Members:
Athena Wintruba & Jess Ignasky

DEI Fellow:
Maria Beatriz Manrique Ardila

Accessibility

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Champion accessibility and incorporate accessible practices across the department.

View Action Items
Subcommittee Staff Members:
Emma Wooten & Phil Geist

DEI Fellow:
Seemran Mishra

Community

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 Create a community that honors diversity & cultural awareness among faculty, staff, and students.

View Action Items
Subcommittee Staff Members:
Gladys Mercier, Gabi Rogers, & Kristin Lavery


Action Items

Objective: Transparency

Website Updates

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Update the Admissions website to reflect DEI goals & values of the department.

Timeline: January 2023

Scholarship Documents

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Enhance admissions scholarship documents and improve awareness of resources. 

Timeline: February 2023

Survey Community

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Develop a process for surveying iii community members based on specific DEI initiatives.

Timeline: May 2023

Website Bio Pages

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Update student, faculty & staff bio pages to include name pronunciation & pronoun information.

Timeline: Aug - Sep 2023

DEI Progress Dashboard

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Implement a dashboard with information about DEI initiatives & progress on the CMUiii website.

Timeline: February 2023

 

Social Media

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Develop Social Media strategy for DEI content and engagement.

Timeline: March 2023

Hiring Transparency

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Increase transparency of hiring goals, resources, and policies across iii.
 
Timeline: June 2023

Events

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Track and utilize existing communication channels and events to promote awareness of DEI outcomes to the iii community.

Timeline: January 2023

Objective: Accessibility

Document Accessibility Resources

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Outline CMU & iii accessibility resources for students, staff and faculty.

Timeline: June 2023

Accessibility Best Practices

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Establish recommended Accessibility Best Practices for teaching, event planning, classroom experience, & marketing/visual communication.

Timeline: June 2023

Objective: Community

DEI at Orientation

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Infuse DEI into orientation through the tracking of Everfi Training & incorporation of cultural humility into sessions.

Timeline: April - Aug 2023

Peer Mentorship Program

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Increase participation in & improve the Peer Mentorship Program experience.

Timeline: Jan - May 2023

DEI & Student Leaders

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Develop & refine resources to help integrate diversity, equity, & inclusion into iii Student Leader practices.

Timeline: Jan - Aug 2023

DEI Coffee Chats

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Establish training resources and consistent structure during DEI coffee chats. 

Timeline: Jan - Aug 2023

Faculty & Staff Training 

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Research existing DEI training opportunities and requirements at CMU & propose suggested plan for iii faculty/staff training.

Timeline: May 2023

Intergroup Dialogue

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Identify opportunities & encourage avenues for faculty/staff participation in Intergroup Dialogue.

Timeline: March 2023

Alumni Engagement

Committed ▸ In Progress ▸ Implemented

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Develop & enhance DEI resources for alumni engagement. 

Timeline: August 2023