Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At the Center for RNA Biomedicine we aim to create new knowledge, research, and creative innovation across campus and departments to enable RNA scientists of different race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender expression, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religious commitment, age, and disability status to equitably shape their environment through research and education. Aligned with the President’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative: DEI 1.0 (2016-2021) and DEI 2.0 (2022 Planning Period–Present), our center is committed to developing strategies for achieving equity and diminishing bias, harassment, discrimination, and intimidation in the college environment, in order to gain and sustain a critical mass of diverse students, staff, and faculty.
What does DEI mean to us?
We welcome and support all RNA scientists, regardless of gender, races and origins.
The Center is engaged in the hiring process of five faculty. It follows the University guidelines and best practices for the recruitment of faculty (STRIDE program), and encourages women and minorities to apply. The application review panel is composed of diverse members of the U-M RNA community, representing various origins and practicing an inclusive approach. The hiring process also requests a DEI statement from the applicants.
Our leadership groups (Executive Committee and Student & Postdoc Council) are composed of diverse and inclusive members. Our symposia and seminars host a diverse, equitable, and inclusive representation of speakers. In the 2019–2020 academic year, our seminar speakers were over 50% females.
DIVERSITY: is expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religious commitments, age, (dis)ability status, and political perspective.
INCLUSION: ensures that our campus is a place where differences are welcomed, differing perspectives are respectfully heard, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging and connection.
EQUITY: is the assurance of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons in our community. Race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status are irrelevant to the right of each individual to equitable access and standing.