Project plans
Strategic initiatives
focusing on UAF's organizational growth:
Description:
This initiative addresses the changes needed to ensure that the University of Alaska
Fairbanks' curriculum represents the organization's values of diversity, equity, accessibility,
and inclusion improving student outcomes and the closure of equity gaps.
Multiyear goal:
UAF has accessibility to curriculum and openness to new ways of thinking and doing
with an emphasis on indigenous ways and knowledge. UAF curricula includes strengths-based
and meaningful inclusion of DEI; diversity of content, people, and inclusivity of
processes.
Year 1 target:
Paused pending work from other teams
- Project Lead(s):
- LaVerne Xilegg Demientieff
- Eileen Harney
- Project Team Members:
- Ben Barst
- Leah Berman
- Jennifer Carroll
- Casey McMillan
Year 2 target:
By Sept. 30, 2022, the Curricular Responsiveness Committee will establish a presence
at new faculty orientation, hold two faculty open forums on diversity, equity and
inclusion, and draft a toolkit focused on awareness and strategies.
- Project lead(s):
- LaVerne Xilegg Demientieff
- Project team members:
- Retchenda George Bettisworth
- Eileen Harney
- Christina Ireton
- Taniesha Moses
- Jennifer Tilbury
Year 3 target:
Summarize information from the faculty forum, complete a student forum - based on
forum outcomes design next steps.
- Project lead(s):
- LaVerne Xilegg Demientieff
- Project team members:
- Retchenda George Bettisworth
- Eileen Harney
- Christina Ireton
- Amy May
- Taniesha Moses
Publications:
Description:
UAF is an integral part of the Alaska community and is a leader in the state. Numerous
international, national, state, and local movements exist and are building momentum
to fight for human rights and create justice. By aligning with existing movements,
UAF will support the continued fight for human rights and serve as a role model. Doing
so will position UAF to act according to its mission to integrate public service and
prepare its community members to be champions of equity and justice.
Multiyear goal:
UAF communicates what we stand for and whom we stand with, has a response process,
and has established how we observe, celebrate and support these shared values regarding
DEI issues.
Year 1 target:
Paused pending work from other teams
- Project lead(s):
- Barb (QasuGlana) Amarok
- Project team members:
- Keith Champagne
- Anna Gagne-Hawes
- Kel Gitter
- Jody Marie Hassel
- Liz La quen náay Kat Saas Medicine Crow
- Emily Sousa
Year 2 target:
By Sept. 30, 2022, UAF has established an institutional belief and communications
framework for DEI-related current events and official observances and celebrations.
- Project lead(s):
- Barb (QasuGlana) Amarok
- Casey McMillan
- Project team members:
- Hudson Bolduc
- Deloodeneenła (Laura Ekada)
- Anna Gagne-Hawes
- Michelle Renfrew
- Emily Sousa
- Tori Tragis
- Project advisors:
- Hannah Harp
Year 3 target:
Continue to establish community partnerships through NDAC, create informational handouts
for identified DEIA observances and celebrations, and develop a program to highlight
UAF students, staff, and faculty who are championing DEIA-related efforts.
- Project lead(s):
- Barb (QasuGlana) Amarok
- Casey McMillan
- Project team members:
- Hudson Bolduc
- Karen Tomasik
Description:
This initiative is intended to secure resources for new and ongoing initiatives and
to create new partnerships to further the mission of and communicate about diversity,
equity, accessibility and inclusion at UAF.
Multiyear goal:
UAF will have a visual resource story map of what exists, what's strong, what's limited
and what is needed. The map will evolve and stimulate change.
Year 1 target:
Design existing IDEA needs and resources assessments and story mechanisms
- Project lead(s):
- Rosemary Madnick
- Project team members:
- Theresa Bakker
- Emily Ballard
- Kara Carlson
- Daisy Huang
- Casey McMillan
- Kate Ripley
- Sarah Stanley
- Matthew Wooller
Description:
This is a student-centered initiative that focuses on changes needed to improve access
to resources, which in turn will enhance students' experiences at UAF. The success
of this initiative will depend on meaningful collaboration with students and authentic
guidance during project implementation.
Multiyear goal:
UAF has created an environment that reflects UAF's inclusive culture and thriving
community. UAF has a holistic, trauma-informed and culturally responsive student-centered
success model that intentionally closes equity gaps.
Year 1 target:
By October 2021, UAF will have approved a plan to modify use of Indigenous terms to
reflect accurate spelling and pronunciation, will have secured a graduate student
position to lead the creation of student success centers, and will have developed
and implemented a comprehensive climate survey.
- Project lead(s):
- Ronnie Houchin
- Project team members:
- Rich Collins
- Kendrick Hautala
- Debbie Mekiana
- Jackie Morton
- Kerri Nakamoto
- Doug Toelle
- Liam Toney
Year 2 target:
By October 2022, UAF will ensure place names and terms honor and reflect Alaska Native
cultures and language, launch identity-centered student success centers, and create
action-oriented recommendations from climate survey results.
- Project lead(s):
- Ronnie Houchin
- Project team members:
- Donald Crocker
- Margo Griffith
- Casey McMillan
Year 3 target:
Revise and refine the business case for identity-centered student success centers and
seek funding to offer focused student support.
- Project lead(s):
- Ronnie Houchin
- Project team members:
- Donald Crocker
- Casey McMillan
Internal improvement projects
focused on enhancing UAF's organizational practice and effectiveness and efficiency:
Description:
This is a leadership training program focused on the highest levels of leadership.
UAF's leaders have larger spheres of influence for decision making compared to others
in the organization. It is important that university leaders who hold the organizational
authority for change have the awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for making
the important decisions and promote institutional bravery to advance UAF's goals of
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Multiyear goal:
All executive leaders are engaged in ongoing learning on key issues related to access,
anti-racism, equity, gender identity, inclusion and wellness. Leaders demonstrate
understanding of the unique political status of tribal governments and citizenship,
and coproduction of knowledge, policies, and values with Indigenous knowledge holders.
Leaders actively challenge both the historical roots and the existing frameworks of
oppression and injustice in higher education. Leaders amplify the voices of and partner
with the community and experienced UAF community members to catalyze institutional
and systemic changes.
Year 1 target:
By October 2021, leaders will have engaged in learning and training opportunities,
completing the first level of decolonization and anti-racist trainings. Leaders will
have hosted internal and external meetings with communities and groups that represent
BIPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, and individuals with disabilities to learn about their priorities,
interests, opportunities and areas to work on as UAF. An accountability structure
will be established for the leaders' learning, training, demonstration of ability
(understanding), and application of knowledge and engagement as robust anti-racists,
who are allied with with BIPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, and disabled individuals.
- Project lead(s):
- Audrey Coble
- Kendall Newman-Sadiik
- Sean Asiqłuq Topkok
- Project team members:
- Amber Cagwin
- Kara Carlson
- Margo Griffith
- Kelley Lassey
- Liz La quen náay Kat Saas Medicine Crow
- Lucille Sands
Year 2 target:
By September 2022, leaders will have completed the second level of decolonization
and anti-racist trainings. Leaders will have hosted internal and external meetings
with communities and groups that represent BIPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, and individuals with
disabilities to learn about their priorities, interests, opportunities and areas to
work on at UAF.
- Project lead(s):
- Margo Griffith
- Project team members:
- Amber Cagwin
- Casey McMillan
- Project advisors:
- Audrey Coble
- Liz La quen náay Kat Saas Medicine Crow
- Sean Asiqłuq Topkok
Year 3 target:
Moved Year 1 and 2 groundwork under DEIA Readiness and Capacity Building Initiative.
Description:
UAF must foster an environment that provides for ongoing, purposeful, and systemic
dialogues on diversity, equity, and inclusion for direct action increasing diversity,
equity, inclusion, and wellness. Intentional efforts must be developed to ensure that
diversity, equity, and inclusion dialogue and action are integrated across the university
in a systematic and sustainable manner in order to lay the foundation for changes
to these systems.
Multiyear goal:
UAF practice, policy, and culture will model diversity, equity, and inclusion and
will embrace challenges through continual dialogue, assessment, and transformation.
Year 1 target:
By October 2021, UAF will have created brave spaces to have critical conversations
around issues of racism and identity, power and privilege. UAF will be educating students,
staff, faculty, and administrators on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and
will have developed the framework for a Workforce Diversity Plan.
- Project lead(s):
- Jo Malbert Narváez
- Project team members:
- Andrew Aquino
- Uma Bhatt
- Kathy Catron
- Lori Gildehaus
- Nicole Misarti
- Mario Muscarella
- Patricia Sekaquaptewa
- Tia Tidwell
Year 2 target:
By October 2022, the Readiness and Capacity-Building Team will have created brave
spaces, scaffolding and a DEI training model for faculty, staff and students.
- Project lead(s):
- Jo Malbert Narváez
- Project team members:
- Logan Elliott
- Lori Gildehaus
- Hannah Harp
- Maeve Spiegler
Year 3 target:
Brave Spaces facilitation training established and program piloted. Capacity building
through training (framework established and initial trainings held).
- Project lead(s):
- Becca Whitman
- Project team members:
- Lori Gildehaus
- Amanda Holmes
- Erin Morotti
- Alda Norris
- Sean Asikłuk Topkok
Description:
Staffing and funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have not been traditionally
prioritized to the extent necessary to meet meaningful institutional culture change
and compliance requirements. The burden of DEI-related efforts is often placed on
the same few individuals when it should be the work expected of everyone. This project
will focus on aligning funding, resources and systems to support DEI-enhancement efforts.
Multiyear goal:
By Sept. 30, 2026, UAF will have aligned funding, resources and systems to support
DEI-enhancement efforts.
Year 1 target:
Paused in year 1 to allow acquisition of additional resources to complete groundwork
- Project lead(s):
- Margo Griffith
Year 2 target:
By Sept. 30, 2022, the Resource Prioritization Committee will have established a DEI-specific
funding source, established a philanthropic campaign for DEI-related efforts and proposed
a unit-level DEI contact framework to leadership.
- Project lead(s):
- Margo Griffith
- Charlene Stern
- Project team member(s):
- Casey McMillan
- Project advisors:
- Theresa Bakker
- Pearl Brower
- Nickole Conley
Year 3 target:
Coming soon.
- Project lead(s):
- Margo Griffith
- Project team members:
- Casey McMillan