Miami University works to create a climate where people of all backgrounds will be welcomed and included in the University community. To ensure that faculty and staff know about, and participate actively in, an inclusive, welcoming environment, many departments provide orientation in diversity issues to new employees. In addition, some areas-- such as Housing, Dining & Guest Services (HDGS), Student Affairs, the School of Business, and the Graduate School-- have strongly encouraged faculty and staff to participate in diversity workshops. Some offer regularly scheduled updates, as well. Maurianne Adams, Chair of the Doctoral Program in Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts and Francie Kendall, a nationally-known diversity consultant, provided faculty diversity training workshops during the last two years. Several units require staff to participate in planning programming about diversity issues. For example, the University Libraries assign each of its departments to plan diversity-related programming, exhibits, digital collections or displays during the academic year.

The University also takes steps to help ensure that students learn to acknowledge and experience diversity. Incoming first year students are exposed to those ideas during their orientation.  In addition, co-curricular activities are available for students to learn more about differing cultures and publications.

The creation of the Center for American and World Cultures reflects Miami University's commitment to diversity. It was established in August 2000 to promote positive inter-group relations among students, faculty, and staff; to support efforts to prepare Miami students for the realities of a global society, and ultimately to improve the climate for diversity at Miami University. This mission will be accomplished through a variety of initiatives and activities intended to stimulate thoughtful discourse about diversity within local, national, and international contexts.   The Center provides education and faculty/staff development as well as support of curricular initiatives and research.  It is a central clearinghouse for resources and diversity programs and events campus-wide.

The University community has an opportunity to learn about various minority populations through publications, web sites, multimedia resources, and other university events created by University units that highlight the many cultures represented at Miami and elsewhere. Prominent examples include:

• Multicultural programming on WMUB
• The Women of Color Celebration and Luncheon
• The Race and Gender Symposium
• Beyond Tolerance, a workshop for students living in residence halls
• Being Gay in College, a symposium for the Division of Student Affairs
• MOSAIC: Residence Hall Theme Learning Community on Diversity
• Clawson Hall, an international living and learning center
• The Annual African-American Read-in
• An Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month Film Festival held in the Libraries
• The Center for American and World Cultures’ speakers series, which attracts renowned speakers to campus

In addition to encouraging students, faculty and staff to participate actively in an inclusive environment, the University also provides opportunities for members of minority groups to network, socialize and share concerns. Examples of such efforts are:

• The Women's Center's newsletter to incoming first year students and reception for new minority and female faculty
• Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA)'s orientation for new incoming student athletes
• Memberships in such groups as the Association of Black Faculty and Staff (ABFAS), Gay & Lesbian Employees at Miami (GLEAM), Miami University Disability Awareness Club (MUDAC), Asian Student Association, Black Student Action Association, Chinese Students and Scholar Friendship Organization, Indian Student Association, Association of Latin American Students, Japanese Culture and Language Association, Miami University Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual Student Alliance, Minority Students’ Professional Association, Sista II Sista, and Graduate Students of Color Association (GSCA)
• African-American sorority suites in university residence halls and six African-American fraternal organizations, including two new chapters in 2001
• Study tables, tutoring programs, and awards sponsored by the Center for Black Culture and Learning

Several University organizations also provide outreach and support to members of minority communities, including:

• Peer Orientation Leaders (POL) provides training for 12 U.S. and international students to assist new international students to adjust to life at Miami University
• The Community Advocacy Alliance (CAA), a group of faculty, students and staff trained to provide support for those who feel marginalized

Additionally, alumni networks have been established to provide a sense of continuity and community, as well as an organization for minority graduates. The Black Alumni Reunion is an outstanding example. Attempts to connect the alumni to current students and faculty include efforts by Alumni Relations and the University Libraries asking Black Alumni to submit reminiscences of their experiences to a digital library collection available on the World Wide Web.

The University has not only created organizations and opportunities for on-campus networking, but has also encouraged members of minority groups to network at state-wide or national conferences. Examples include:

• Students attended conferences including the National Association of Black Accountants’ meeting, the African American Leadership Summit, National Black Leadership Conference, National Hispanic Leadership Conference, and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education.
• Faculty from across campus, including librarians, presented papers and participated in panel sessions at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education.

Examples of the University's sensitivity to the needs of many segments of Miami's diverse populations include:

• A greater emphasis on foods from global cultures, including Asian and Latino, in campus dining facilities and in publications issued by Housing, Dining & Guest Services (HDGS)
• Extended hours at the Shriver Center, Recreational Sports Center, King Library, and other facilities to better serve international and other students who may keep non-traditional hours
• Working towards expanded but affordable child care for Miami employees through the building of a new child care facility on campus
• Alternative media, including large print, Braille, and taped materials, real time captioning, readers, and modified housing available to persons with disabilities
• Many recently-created or recently re-focused positions and offices provide services to minorities, including:
  • Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for minority programs
  • Director for Diversity Initiatives (SBA)
  • Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives (Student Affairs)
  • New part-time position to provide outreach (Admissions)
  • Multicultural Librarian (University Libraries)
  • Minority student recruitment and retention specialist in CAS and the Richard T. Farmer School of Business
  • The new Office of Multi-cultural Affairs has been moved to Student Affairs.

There is no doubt that Miami has made great strides in creating a welcoming atmosphere where people of all backgrounds are included in the university community.  In both the work and learning environments, steps have been taken to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to recognize and engage in diversity issues by participating in seminars and workshops.  Co-curricular activities offer students opportunities to learn about and experience diverse cultures represented at Miami.  Employees can participate in a variety of workshops and sessions related to diversity in the workplace.  Networking of minority groups is supported through on-campus as well as regional and national conferences and events.  The spirit of diversity has also permeated the service sector at Miami in housing for persons with disabilities as well as in dining halls.

Providing opportunities does not ensure that faculty, students, and staff will avail themselves of such opportunities. Miami must evaluate the extent to which existing programming reaches members of the University community and results in changes of behavior that improve the environment and lead to a more inclusive and welcoming institution.

Changing the climate at this institution must be approached in a systematic fashion. The University must develop a cogent way to communicate diversity goals and report on a regular basis progress in achieving those goals.  It must develop plans and programs to mentor, train, and recruit women and faculty of color to assume positions of leadership within the University community.  And furthermore, leadership workshops for administrators and faculty must be developed to focus on communication, conflict resolution, setting a vision and climate at Miami.