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.

News and Events

Explore stories relating to equity and diversity at the College of Biological Sciences and beyond. ​

• News and events from the CBS Connect blog
• Improving Campus Climate news and perspectives

• Resources for Students

  College

  • CBS Affinity Group for Indigenous Students & Students of Color — Undergraduate student group meets weekly during the fall and spring semesters.
  • Inclusive Active-Learning: Addressing Peer-to-Peer Bias in the Classroom

   

  University

  • NorthStar STEM Alliance
  • Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Awards

   

  External

  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

  How can we develop an inclusive climate in CBS classes to support effective learning of all students? Here are some helpful links that have been reviewed by several CBS faculty.

  • Faculty & staff workshops - Office of Equity and Diversity
  • 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.
  • NIH IRACDA Training Research-Educators in Minnesota program
  • 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” — All CBS graduate students are required to take diversity training through the Office of Equity and Diversity.
• Anti-Racism Resources

  Anti-racist e-books are available free of charge through August 31 from University of Minnesota Press and Hennepin County Library. Multiple entities compiled anti-racism resources for non-Black community members. 

  • College of Biological Sciences
  • Minnesota Student Association
  • University of Minnesota Alumni Association
• University Programs
  • Office of Equity & Diversity
  • University of Minnesota Women's Center
  • Disability Resources
  • President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 
• College Initiatives

  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. The group will deliver a set of recommendations in spring 2021.

  CBS Virtual Town Hall — Dean’s Office will hold an anti-racism town hall early this fall to provide updates to the CBS community and continue what will be an ongoing conversation at every level of the College about how to advance anti-racism work.

  Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Excellence