The University of Wisconsin-Madison is asking campus and community members to help create a new framework for diversity and inclusion. The first five campus and four community sessions were held during October and November at venues across the campus and community with the intention of providing the opportunity to get broad participation. Two introductory sessions also were held at the October Annual Campus Diversity Forum.
The tentative name for the currently evolving diversity plan is: Forward Together: UW-Madison’s Framework for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence. All members of the UW-Madison community – residents, alumni, educators, parents, students, volunteers, business leaders and organization representatives — are encouraged to share ideas for improvement, approaches and feedback.
To see more about the work of the committee on the web at www.diversityplan2013.wisc.edu, or contact the committee at jointhediscussion@cdo.wisc.edu or 608-262-0579. Written feedback can be sent to: Join the Discussion, Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee, Rm. 3 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706.
“The Greater Madison community, as well as the entire state and all the regions of the country we serve, are pivotal partners in shaping how we move forward in improving our diversity efforts as a world-class institution of higher learning and partner in community outreach,” says UW-Madison Interim Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Patrick J. Sims. “We want and need the input of communities beyond the campus to establish and reach our goals on diversity and inclusion. This is our first attempt to really listen and hear from our community partners. Folks should know this is only the beginning and more listening sessions are to come that will help us build and improve our ongoing efforts.”
In preparation for joining the discussion, community participants were asked to gather their thoughts around three key questions that will be discussed at the engagement sessions:
• Think of a time at UW-Madison when you felt welcome and included: What about that experience made it feel welcoming and inclusive?
• What does inclusion look, sound, and feel like to you?
• If you could change one thing at UW related to diversity or inclusivity, what would it be?
Members of the campus community were presented with a more comprehensive version of the evolving framework now being developed and amended by the shared governance committee. Diversity Plan Framework, Diversity Forum 10.21.13
“With the new leadership of Chancellor Rebecca Blank and interim Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Patrick J. Sims, we are entering an exciting era of opportunity to create long-lasting, sustainable change,” says Ruth Litovsky, professor of communication sciences and disorders and co-chair of the campus Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee. “Contributions from all corners of the UW-Madison experience are invaluable to the committee’s work.” 
Since February 2013, a dedicated team of campus and community members has been hard at work developing an innovative framework for guiding, shaping, and strengthening UW-Madison’s commitment to inclusive excellence and innovation.
As the flagship institution of the UW System, UW-Madison is dedicated to intentionally integrating diversity efforts into core aspects of the university’s mission, maximizing success and participation among all members of the UW-Madison community. This specifically includes the university’s academic priorities, leadership, quality improvement initiatives, decision-making, day-to-day operations and organizational cultures.
Co-chair Ryan Adserias, doctoral student in educational leadership and policy analysis, added that although the time students and their families are associated with the UW-Madison campus may be relatively short, the long-term impact of that association and the experience they have while on campus is especially important to formulating the university’s approach to diversity, inclusion and climate. 
“We are thrilled at the level of commitment we have already seen from members of the UW-Madison community,” says Adserias. “Each voice is critical to this process; we want to emphasize, again, that there is a place for you, your colleagues, and friends as we continue to refine our ongoing commitment to this important work.”