Psychology DEI Plan for Feedback

After the killing of George Floyd over the summer, Jeff Simpson, department chair in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, charged the diversity committee with creating short and long-term action items for the department. A Minnesota Daily article entitled, “Psychology department releases equity and inclusion draft plan for feedback” reports that this month, the committee released a draft of departmental recommendations and are asking for feedback from students, faculty, and staff.

Rich Lee, PhD, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, serves as the associate chair for research and chair of the diversity committee in the department. Some recommendations included in the plan is to have 50% of faculty in the department complete the Office of Equity and Diversity Certificate program within three years. Another need is hiring black faculty as representation is essential, particularly as the department has seen an increase in undergraduate students of color of 85%. As the committee prepares the draft to be finalized by the end of the school year, they are working on compiling feedback from representatives and graduate students.


Composed by Flora Pollack, communications assistant.