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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We’re Better Together

The School of Music, Theatre & Dance fully embraces the notion that academic and artistic excellence is inseparable from an abiding and pervasive institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The School is committed to furthering the University’s goal of ensuring that each member of our community has an equal opportunity to thrive and to take full advantage of the resources afforded by the University of Michigan.

On This Page

Strategic Plan

The School of Music, Theatre & Dance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Plan – Year 5 pertains to faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and post-doctoral fellows. Our strategic plan for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion includes objectives with associated recommended actions for achieving them. All strategic objectives are accompanied by measures of success that will be tracked over time, as well as descriptions of single- and multiple-year actions that will be taken to accomplish those objectives. Your voice helps ensure that this plan continues to reflect our community. We urge all students, faculty, and staff to read the plan, respond to it and determine what you can do to improve DEI at SMTD. Each of us has a role to play in making our community better. Ultimately, we will be judged not by what we say, but what we do. View the DEI 1.0 Summary.

Climate Survey

As part of the Strategic Plan, SMTD participated in a DEI Climate Survey. The purpose of this voluntary effort was to provide individual units with a way to measure their respective workplace climates in terms of DEI. Data for this effort were collected in partnership with the ADVANCE Program. The results were compiled by an independent research contractor, SoundRocket, to generate reports that are now being made available by the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This report represents the first of several efforts to better understand our climate and how it may be experienced by various groups. In addition to the full reports for Faculty, Staff, and Students, executive summaries provide an overview of key findings.

We welcome your comments and invite you to share them by contacting the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at [email protected].

CRLT

The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching is part of the Provost’s Office and works with faculty, graduate student instructors (GSIs) and academic administrators in all nineteen schools and colleges to support and enhance learning and teaching at U-M. CRLT provide consultations, grants for faculty to improve teaching, printed resources, and workshop topics such as Inclusive Teaching and Hot Moments in the Classroom.

Identity-based Resources and Services

The Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) ,using the lens of race and ethnicity, engages the campus community and transforms the student experience to build inclusive spaces. The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) is a social justice education program.

The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities supports the University’s commitment to equity and diversity by providing support services and academic accommodations to students with disabilities.

ADVANCE STRIDE Committee Faculty Recruitment Workshops – The committee leads workshops for faculty and administrators involved in hiring. It also works with departments by meeting with chairs, faculty search committees, and other department members involved with recruitment and retention.

Awards

North Campus MLK Spirit Awards

The Martin Luther King Spirit Awards are given to students, student organizations, staff, and faculty members at the University of Michigan North Campus colleges who exemplify the leadership and vision of Dr. King through their commitment to social justice, diversity, and inclusion.

SMTD DEI Awards

These awards recognize and uplift the contributions of students, faculty and staff in the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in service, scholarship, musicianship, artistry, or advocacy. 

Recent Award Winners

DEI Involvement Opportunities

DEI SMTD Student Ambassadors

The DEI Ambassadors Program empowers a diverse group of current SMTD students who serve to strengthen our community by engaging with and learning from leaders in society and each other. Our student ambassadors are not only diverse in their age, gender, race, and sexual orientation; but also in religious affiliation, political views, and experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Ambassadors receive information about events within SMTD and across campus that focus on leadership, social change and inclusion, as well as gather together a few times throughout the year for trainings, dialogue, and solidarity. More importantly, they are tasked with taking their newly found knowledge back into their respective communities to serve as an example and support to their peers. Are you interested in becoming a DEI Ambassador? Please contact the Office for DEI for more information.

Diversity and Inclusion Grants (DIGS)

SMTD grant funding is for current SMTD students, faculty, and staff to use in support of student organizations, professional development, conference attendance, or DEI-related projects. Please contact the Office for DEI for more information.

DEI & Anti Racism Related Resources

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning resources that SMTD faculty and staff have found beneficial to the movement to eradicate systemic and institutional racism.

Books and Articles

Apps and More

Music

Organizations

Videos and Podcasts

Apps and More

Music

Connect with us!

The SMTD Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion has an open door policy: anytime someone is in the office and a private meeting is not in session, we encourage students, faculty and staff to come by and express concerns they may have about the school climate, share project ideas, ask questions about DEI initiatives, or just say hello!

Dr. Amber Benton (she/her)
Chief Officer for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
[email protected]
(734) 764-3757

Caitlin Taylor (she/her)
DEI Program Manager

Mattie Levy (she/her)
DEI Coordinator

Sean Grier (he/him)
DEI Coordinator

Annabella Vidrio (she/her)
DEI Coordinator