Background
To bring about transformational change from within, Chancellor Mark Mone and Vice Chancellor Joan Prince charged a small group of faculty and staff to develop a training that would serve as a foundational step in UWM’s path toward racial equity. This approach was chosen with the understanding that each member of the campus community has a role to play in making UWM a more just and equitable place. Led by Dr. Chia Youyee Vang (associate vice chancellor and professor of history), the curriculum development team included Karen Massetti-Moran (associate director, Human Resources), Jamie Cimpl-Wiemer (director, Equity and Diversity Services), Dr. Elizabeth Drame (professor and chair, Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Sara VanderHaagen (associate professor of communication).
Based on best practices from researchers and practitioners, the UWM Racial Justice and Equity Program is a five-module professional development opportunity for employees to learn and reflect about the negative impact of racial injustice throughout U.S. history and how race shapes our society today. The five modules provide information to help individuals understand the influence of implicit racial biases on our behavior, and they recommend practical actions we can take to combat racism and foster inclusion and belonging for all. The UWM Racial Justice and Equity Program consists of the following components:
- Module 1: Self-Assessment
- Module 2: History of Race
- Module 3: Power and Privilege
- Module 4: The Power of Implicit (Unconscious) Bias
- Module 5: Allyship Fundamentals and Leadership Actions to Foster Belonging