Greetings Illinois State University family and friends,

We hope you enjoy reading Illinois State’s second annual report on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) as each page of this report represents the best of who we are and what we aspire to be as an equitable and inclusive campus community.

This annual report begins with a 5-year snapshot of our campus progress since ISU’s 2016 Campus Climate Task Force Plan. The 5-year overview highlights key areas of accomplishment and work yet to be done. The report shines the light on our student enrollment “by the numbers” and introduces new communities of belonging, such as ISU’s Multicultural Center. Readers will learn about our forthcoming diversity education requirements adopted by the Academic Senate for all graduating students, beginning in 2023. They will be introduced to the new faces of faculty, staff, and campus leaders as well as the important and groundbreaking research and creative works underway throughout campus by our scholars.

Over the 2021-2022 academic year, Illinois State became familiar with the campuswide framework for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access, titled the “EDI-A Pillars of Progress” (scan QR code, opposite page). The pillars are designed to guide and evaluate institutional change across 10 domains of equity, inclusion, and access. The “Pillars” framework challenges our campus community to re-envision the ways in which we cultivate and incorporate the “cultural wealth” and contributions of diverse students, faculty, staff, and leaders across the spectrum of diverse identities.

In the pages of the report, readers will delve into the power of an inclusive campus community, as evidenced by our Flags on the Quad art installation that came to life through a program titled, I Am Here. We Are Here. We Belong: Flags on the Quad. The event brought together students, faculty, staff, and community leaders who collectively shared a space on our campus to learn, engage, dialogue, and reflect upon the impact that immigrants have made from across the globe in recognition of National Immigrants Day.

To advance our campus goals of attracting and supporting diverse faculty and staff talent, Human Resources launched the ISU “Search Advocate” certification initiative. This program prepares ISU faculty and staff to serve as trained search committee facilitators who play a vital role in establishing creative and inclusive recruitment strategies and candidate selection practices through an EDI lens.

In the areas of student enrollment, retention, and college completion, readers will have an opportunity to learn about Illinois State’s new partnership with the Hope Chicago Foundation, established to offer debt-free higher education opportunities to gifted and talented students from Chicago Public Schools and their parents. Additionally, the TRIO program launched its First Generation Triumph podcast to elevate the voices of first-generation students at Illinois State University and offer them a space to share their lived experiences.

The advocacy efforts of our campus EDI leaders came to light as the President’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council (DIAC) offered its recommendation for the new Office of Equity and Inclusion. Implementation of these transformative recommendations are currently underway while department, college, and division-level EDI committees across campus continue their work through the EDI Leaders Circle as communities of practice.

As the enclosed report offers a small sampling of the efforts underway at Illinois State, it is fair to say that there is much more to be done. In the coming months, with your support and your advocacy, ISU will continue on this journey to build a community of inclusive excellence. We invite you to join us.