In order to achieve inclusion for all students, faculty and staff, we are committed to the foundational scientific practice of examining assumptions and biases. We believe that a self-aware science community, active institutional efforts and individual advocacy will help remove barriers for the success of all community members across differences, including race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, geography, and socioeconomic status or background.
- Resources for Students
- CBS Affinity Groups — Undergraduate student group meets weekly during the fall and spring semesters.
Featured conferences/professional communities:- The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) — Conference, virtual programming and community for underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) — An inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.
- Resources for Faculty and Staff
- Faculty & staff workshops — Office of Equity and Diversity
- Faculty & staff afinity groups — Hosted by the Officer of Equity and Diverstiy
- Diversity Community of Practice — A grassroots community of faculty and staff.
- Faculty Fighting Racism — Faculty Fighting Racism was created by the Graduate School Diversity Consultation Team as a first step in the process of understanding what it means to be anti-racist.
- UMN's Center for Teaching and Learning, GLBT classroom resources for faculty
- Equity and diversity in the search process toolkit
- ASM Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education Special Issue: Inclusive Science, published February 2020
- Teaching With Intention: Facilitating Challenging Conversations in the Classroom
- Anti-Racism Resources
See anti-racist resources compiled from several entities:
- University and College Programs
- College Initiatives
Fall 2021
The College launched a community of practice to facilitate information sharing and action teams inform efforts to implement several of the recommendations presented last spring.
DEIJ Action Teams
Beginning in fall 2021, DEIJ action teams will do a deep dive collecting and analyzing information, identifying opportunities and laying out next steps. The teams, made up of volunteers from across the college, will focus on the following priorities:
- Increase the representational diversity through recruitment and retention strategies.
- Align incentives and recognition as a reflection of our values.
- Promote and develop inclusive teaching practices.
The teams will work with dean’s office staff members and other stakeholders to implement changes and develop new initiatives that support progress on these priorities. Teams will meet monthly through June. Volunteers are encouraged to secure approval from their supervisor as needed.
DEIJ Community of Practice
The College’s DEIJ community of practice is modeled on the University’s Diversity Community of Practice (DCoP). Departments and units within the college selected representatives to participate. The goal is to facilitate information sharing across the College. It’s one way we can learn from one another and increase the impact of our efforts. The CBS CoP will meet monthly beginning in October 2021. A seed grant program will launch in winter 2022 to support ongoing work and pilot new initiatives within the college. The DEIJ community of practice will serve as the selection committee for distributing the available funds.
Current members
- Kelly Aukema - Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics
- Katie Furniss - Biology Teaching and Learning
- Forest Isbell - Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
- Peter Kennedy - Plant and Microbial Biology
- Lesley Knoll - Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories
- Kit Leffler - Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
- Kat Markham - CBS Post Docs
- Forest McMillan - CBS Student Services
- Mike Travisano - Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
- Stephanie Xenos - CBS Dean's Office
Spring 2021
The College convened two working groups and help a town hall to discuss recommendations for addressing racism and inequities.
CBS Virtual Town Hall
- Watch the webinar
- Review answers to some of the questions from the town hall
- Dean Forbes' Anti-Racism Town Hall Follow-Up Message
CBS Anti-Racism Working Group
Formed in June 2020, the group is comprised of faculty, staff and students charged with identifying structures and processes in CBS that reinforce systemic racism, surveying the current landscape of anti-racist work in the College and developing a roadmap for moving this work forward at the collegiate level. Read the College of Biological Sciences Anti-Racism Work Group Recommendations
Alumni Anti-Racism Council
Starting in mid-2020, a handful of CBS alumni established the Alumni Anti-Racism Council to discuss racism and how race-related issues within the College impact students. Read their letter to Dean Forbes, written on Friday, December 4, 2020
Equity and Diversity Awards
College of Biological Sciences faculty, staff and students have made an impact on campus and in the community advancing equity and diversity work. Below are some of the recipients of these members of our collegiate community who received accolades for their work.
- Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity Award
2019: Issra Hussein, Meredith Song, Destiny Weaver, Xianyi Xiong
2018: Emmanuel Okematti
2017: Leah Alemu, Bennett Olupo
2016: Kyle Lau
2012: Hai Nguyen-Tran
2011: Nora Ali, Allan Kerandi, Suresh Pavuluri
2010: Damé Idossa, Jennifer Nicklay
2009: Ifeanyi Anwah, Thuy Nguyen-Tran, Yee Xiong
- Office for Equity and Diversity Transformation Award
2013: "Fostering a Self-Reflective Community" - CBS Grassroots Diversity Collaborative
- GLBTA Leadership Award
2012: Dr. Sehoya Cotner
- Breaking the Silence Award
Daniel Nidzgorski (MN Queer Science)
- Access Achievement Award
Dr. Paul Siliciano