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. ​

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

• Resources for Students
  • CBS Affinity Group for Black Students, Indigenous Students and Students of Color — Undergraduate student group meets weekly during the fall and spring semesters.
  • Circle of Indigenous Nations — The Circle of Indigenous Nations fosters an environment that allows students to feel a sense of community on campus. It contributes to the strengthening and development of all students through culturally specific services and activities.
  • Lewis B. Stokes NorthStar STEM Alliance
  • Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence

  Student Organizations & Student Cultural Centers

  Some of the most influential and active organizations are our 2nd floor cultural centers in Coffman Union. The state-of-the-art 2nd floor offers space for studying and community gathering. Each cultural center provides educational opportunities, social connections, and a safe space for their identity group. These groups are operating remotely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

     

  • American Indian Student Cultural Center (AISCC)
  • Asian American Student Union (ASU)
  • Black Student Union (BSU) 
  • Disabled Student Cultural Center (DSCC) 
  • La Raza Student Cultural Center 
  • Queer Student Cultural Center (QSCC)
  • Al-Madinah Student Cultural Center (AMCC)
  • Minnesota International Student Association (MISA)
  • Feminist Student Activist Collective (FSAC)

  For students interested in organizations that exist at the intersections of identity and the study of STEM, the following organizations may be of interest:

  • oSTEM
  • MAPS
  • Association of Multicultural Scientists (AMS) 
  • Queer in the Life Sciences (QuILS) 
  • Somali Association For Pre-Health students
  • Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers 
  • Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
  • The American Indian Science and Engineering Society

   

  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: 

  • College of Biological Sciences
  • Minnesota Student Association
  • University of Minnesota Alumni Association
• University and College Programs
  • Office of Equity & Diversity
  • University of Minnesota Women's Center
  • Disability Resources
  • President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 
  • NIH IRACDA Training Research-Educators in Minnesota Program
  • Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Excellence
• 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.

  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

  CBS Virtual Town Hall — Dean’s Office will hold an anti-racism town hall in early 2021 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.

  If you have questions, please contact Anna Cullen at cbsdo@umn.edu.