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Progress to Date
In October 2023, U-M launched the Secular, Spiritual, Religious, and Interfaith (SSR&I) initiative, aimed at fostering collaboration across different units within the institution and strengthening partnerships. Year 1 of DEI 2.0 saw significant progress in building the foundation to support that mission. One major step was the hiring of Kelly Dunlop to serve as the inaugural SSR&I Lead who will play a crucial role in fostering partnerships, outreach activities, and educational initiatives that help increase religious literacy and build awareness of religious and cultural bias and discrimination, such as antisemitism and Islamophobia. The SSR&I Lead position is also central to our institutional partnership with the Association for Religious Counselors (ARC), which supports religious and spiritual leaders in the Ann Arbor area who serve the U-M community.
Given the empirical evidence that supports the role of higher education in helping students navigate their religious, spiritual or secular growth, the planning team is consulting with experts, including those leading the INSPIRES Campus Climate Index Project, an assessment tool that measures, evaluates, and represents an institution’s efforts toward, and commitment to, establishing a welcoming climate for students of different worldview identities. A small group convened in June to strategize around key elements of the INSPIRES Index. An engagement of a broader group of stakeholders will occur in the fall.
Overall, strategic actions during Year 1 laid a strong foundation for the SSR&I initiative, carving out a path for a balanced and inclusive environment that respects the university's array of faith-based and secular viewpoints.
Responsible Unit(s): The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Division of Student Life