VCFA unit employees start diversity conversations

A series of conversations is taking place across campus over the next two weeks focusing on how to make UW–Madison a more welcoming place for students, faculty, staff and the public.

The first such conversation was held Monday at the Gordon Dining and Event Center. More than 80 employees were in attendance.

The sessions are open to employees in all units under Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Darrell Bazzell, which includes about 3,000 employees in all.

University Architect Dan Okoli, chair of the VCFA’s Council on Engagement, Inclusion and Diversity (EID), says the sessions will help inform the council’s work and other EID activities.

“We want to hear what is working and what is important to them, but also we are looking for suggestions for how engagement, diversity and inclusion can be advanced in our workplace,” Okoli says.

The sessions dovetail with conversations taking place across campus to advance the UW–Madison Diversity Framework, and complement the campuswide discussion in January following events in Ferguson, Staten Island and Milwaukee.

The conversation also is part of the vice chancellor for finance and administration’s strategic initiative on engagement, inclusion and diversity. The EID Initiative was developed to support campus priorities of recruiting and retaining the best faculty and staff and enhancing diversity to ensure excellence in education and research.

“What I hope we can do is to talk about how we strengthen our sense of community and ensure that everyone feels welcome, valued and included,” Bazzell says. “We can only reach our potential as individuals, as a campus and as a community if we capitalize and leverage the strengths all of us bring to the workplace.”

Participants sat at tables of eight or fewer and were discouraged from sitting with people they know or work with regularly. Facilitators led each table through a discussion that included feedback on recruitment and retention, employee recognition, communication, professional development and creating an inclusive and respectful work environment. Translation in Chinese, Hmong, Mandarin, Spanish and Tibetan was offered.

Okoli says he heard discussion at one table that there must be a long-term view and that many employees are looking to be proactive.

“What I heard was people asking, ‘What can I do?’” Okoli says. “Each of us can do something on a daily basis to make our workplace more welcoming and inclusive.”

Future sessions are scheduled on:

Wednesday, May 6, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Gordon Dining and Event Center (Concerto Room)

Thursday, May 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Union South (Varsity Hall)

Wednesday, May 13, 11 p.m.-1 a.m., Union South (Varsity Hall)

The May 13 session will include interpretation and facilitation for Chinese, Hmong, Mandarin, Spanish and Tibetan.