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Our recommendations entail a seismic shift in UMD's approach to diversity education ...
The Diversity Education Task Force examined existing UMD undergraduate diversity and civic
educational initiatives with the goal of offering recommendations for improvement. Based on our
analysis, we propose revising introductory activities for new students, modifying parts of the General
Education diversity curriculum, offering microcredentials for optional diversity and civic engagement
programs, and encouraging all major degree programs to include discipline-specific diversity content.
Our charge was to consider how diversity and civic engagement education could help create a more inclusive campus community. We reviewed diversity education on campus and how this could be improved, considered existing research and best practices, examined general education and other educational and training initiatives and explored how civic engagement education might be incorporated.
Focus on Gen Ed
For the diversity requirement, we recommend changing its structure, so that students take one theory-oriented and
one practice-oriented course.
Focus on Majors
We recommend that all colleges and departments examine their major degree requirements with the goal of adding or
improving discipline specific diversity education. Faculty would identify diversity-related
learning outcomes and instructional methods such as modifying existing coursework or adding
professional development workshops.
Thank you to the more than 100 faculty members who attended four comprehensive listening sessions, provided valuable insight and asked important questions. Thank you to the collegiate councils, department chairs and other faculty members who shared their perspectives. Thank you for visiting this site and reviewing these materials carefully, as we explore how diversity and civic engagement could create a more inclusive campus community.
FAQs
To be transparent about our process and responsive to campus constituents’ concerns, we have collated and summarized various questions, concerns, and criticisms of the DETF proposal for changes to the General Education diversity requirement. We believe that a more complete airing of constituents’ reactions can result in greater clarity about what is (and is not) being proposed and ultimately in stronger, more effective recommendations.
Alysa Conway, Undergraduate Student Alisha Desai, Undergraduate Student Senam Okpattah, Undergraduate Student Steven Petkas, Associate Director, Department of Resident Life Lourdes Salamanca-Riba, Professor, Materials Science &
Engineering Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Associate Professor, Anthropology Ebony Terrell Shockley, Associate Clinical Professor, Teaching and
Learning, Policy & Leadership Cynthia Kay Stevens, Associate Dean, Office of Undergraduate
Studies and Associate Professor, Management & Organization Janelle Wong, Professor, American Studies
