Article | Higher education

From action to awareness: evaluating your institution's DEI progress

Nov. 15, 2023 · Authored by Jennifer Romano

Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education is not just a noble aspiration but a fundamental necessity in today's world. In higher education, the need for a robust focus on DEI cannot be overstated. The landscape is evolving, and the student body as well as faculty and staff are becoming more diverse than ever, both in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background and much more. To meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of this diverse population, institutions must continually adapt their strategies for promoting DEI.

To effectively adapt strategies, institutions must formally evaluate their progress toward DEI initiatives and objectives to ensure that intentions are being translated into meaningful actions. A lack of assessment may result in initiatives that remain stagnant, leading to a sense of futility and frustration among faculty and staff, students and other stakeholders.

Why is a DEI strategy evaluation important?

1. Understanding the current state of progress will provide valuable insights for making informed decisions about the necessary steps to maintain progress toward objectives.
2. Limited direction or resources, particularly when dealing with multiple campuses, can hinder an institution's capacity to achieve their objectives effectively.
3. Absence of clear responsibility, oversight and outcome assessment may lead to irregularities or inadequate advancement toward set goals.

Key risks associated with not evaluating your institution’s DEI progress and maturity

 The risk of not evaluating your institution's progress toward DEI goals may be substantial. To create a more inclusive and equitable environment, institutions should commit to ongoing evaluation and data-driven decision-making to ensure that impactful strides toward DEI objectives are being taken. Failure to do so can have long-term consequences for an institution's success, reputation and social impact. Some key risks include:

• Lack of progress – without regular and formal evaluation, an institution may struggle to make meaningful progress toward its DEI goals.
• Absence of accountability – a lack of formalized monitoring and measurement of staffing, resources, key performance indicators (KPIs) and outcomes may result in inconsistencies or insufficient progress.