From commitment to action.
The Engage EDI program was developed in response to the university strategic plan (Here and Next) as an ongoing resource to support staff & faculty in the translation of institutional commitments into day to day actions.
The highly experiential program anchors in specific institutional language. It offers facilitated learning, skill building, and on-going practice through courses, modules, and workshops. Staff & faculty report that they appreciate connecting with and hearing from colleagues across the university, as well as the opportunity for professional development in core communication, situational awareness, and project management skills.
Engage EDI is made up of the Commit Series, the Act Series, and the Transform Series. The program is joined by individuals, leveraged by self-organized groups, used strategically toward team and/or department goals, and has been adopted as part of certificate and/or professional development programs for schools and other large parts of the university.
Over 800 staff & faculty have been active in the program since its launch in the Spring of 2023. Sessions are offered virtually and in person.
Engage EDI Quickstart
Some things to know:
- Because all sessions are designed to give staff and faculty dedicated space to work through real opportunities and ideas, classes are highly experiential and participants should come ready to engage.
- The program is sequential. Classes build on each other and are designed to be taken over a series of months with time in between to apply the class experience to day-to-day work.
- Sessions are designed for all skill and experience levels to bring to — and take from — the experience what is most needed in their context.
There are multiple ways to get started —
Many staff & faculty start here, and some parts of the university have strongly recommended or set performance goals around completing the Commit Series.
Across seven two-hour classes, participants
- Become familiar with the role of equity, diversity, and inclusion in WashU’s mission and commitments
- Examine their role as individuals in the collective work of building and maintaining an inclusive and equitable WashU
- Explore the role of effective dialogue in realizing university commitments and build and practice dialogue skills
- Acquire tools for identifying the services, processes, and tasks in their day-to-day work that most impact university commitments
Participants sign up for each class after completing the previous one, and are encouraged to move at their own pace.
If you are part of a group of 2 or more who has been tasked with or taken on an equity, inclusion, or belonging-related effort in your corner of the university, the Act Series is here to help. Across the series participants will
- Explore, name, and practice how individual roles work collectively toward university commitments
- Build and practice tactical communication skills in support of effective teamwork, interpersonal dialogue, and inclusive workplace practices
- Acquire, strengthen, and practice skills necessary to identify, articulate, and implement efforts to increase belonging in the workplace
- Explore and practice tools that support ongoing collective efforts to meet university commitments as articulated in Here and Next and institutional and mission and vision documents
Sessions double as hands-on work time for the project or initiative that participants are working on in their area of the university.
Yes! One of the best ways to leverage this program is to be strategic about making the most of it. We love to think through this with our colleagues. If you are an individual who has finished the Commit Series, or a group of 2 or more working on a project or initiative, use the link below to sign up for a 60 minute session designed to co-think with you.