About the IChange Network
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of 19 University campuses selected in 2020 as part of a three-year institutional change effort to foster institutional cultures that recognize and value inclusivity and diversity both broadly and, specifically, in the context of STEM faculty work. Toward this end, Aspire Institutional Change initiative (IChange) seeks to cultivate postsecondary institutions where STEM faculty from underrepresented groups (URGs) are widely recruited, hired and retained, and all STEM faculty employ inclusive teaching, advising, and research mentoring.
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) co-leads the effort, known as Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty. The new cohort joins two earlier cohorts that are currently working together to advance such work, bringing the total number of institutions participating in the institutional change effort to 54. The National Science Foundation funds the effort as part of its INCLUDES initiative.
Participating universities begin their work with a self-assessment of current practices and assets. The institutions will then develop and implement campus action plans to drive change and scale such efforts across all their STEM programs. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is currently gathering quantitative and qualitative data related to policies, procedures and outcomes related to STEM faculty recruitment, hiring and retention.
Progress Updates from the IChange Team:
Fall 2022
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IChange Fall Retreat is scheduled for September 13, 2022
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The IChange team is expanded in preparation for strategic planning to develop a Strategic Plan for Faculty Diversity
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IChange Strategic Planning Meetings Begin
Summer 2022
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IChange leaders, Rebecca Ropers and Keisha Varma attended the IChange annual meeting and joined the Region 4 IChange Circle on behalf of the University of Minnesota.
Spring 2022
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We distributed the departmental survey and began to organize the results and reflect on all of the self-assessment data collected thus far.
Fall 2021
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We organized and cleaned quantitative data on faculty composition, hiring, departures and promotions.
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We designed a departmental survey to gather more detailed information about practices and policies related to faculty hiring, onboarding & mentoring, and evaluation.
June/July/August 2021
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In June, the Advisory Committee met for the first time and provided feedback on the self assessment process
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We also prepared and submitted our first annual report to the IChange Network Coordinators
April/May 2021
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April and May were filled with data collection
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We requested and reflected on information about policies and practices from Faculty & Academic Affairs, Human Resources and Office for Equity & Diversity, as well as collegiate associate deans
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We also began examining quantitative data about the composition of our faculty and students, new faculty hires, faculty receiving promotion and departures. We uncovered places where data practices need to be improved in order to better examine the current state.
Feb/March 2021
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Co-leads, Keisha Varma & Rebecca Ropers, invited faculty and administrators to join the IChange Team and Advisory Board
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In February, the IChange Team met to start to define the scope of their work.
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Also in February, we began to collect the quantitative and qualitative data that will allow analysis of recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion strategies.
Dec 2020/Jan 2021
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Co-leads, Keisha Varma & Rebecca Ropers, invited faculty and administrators to join the IChange Team and Advisory Board
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In January, the IChange Team met for a kick-off meeting.
Fall 2020
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The University of Minnesota Twin Cities was accepted into the 3rd IChange cohort.