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 What are the important dates and milestones we should know?

• For your planning purposes, we have developed abbreviated and detail timelines to assist you in meeting  milestones. You can find those here.
  • Drafts for Non-Academic Units are due on October 15th with the finalized plans due on July 8, 2022.
  • Drafts for Academic Unit and Regional Campuses are due on November 19th with the finalized plans due on July 8, 2022.

What happens if we don’t think we’ll be finished by those dates?

• There is flexibility with the draft deadline but very little flexibility with the submission of the final plan due date. If you need an alternative deadline for the full draft not to exceed a month, please contact Stavros Atsas at satsas@kent.edu directly. He will work with you on determining a date that works for the process and your specific unit’s needs. Once an alternative date is determined, you will be required to send a confirmation in writing to ensure that both parties have mutual understanding.

What would be a good first year goal? 

• The strategic planning guides are written in a way to help units at every level develop an effective plan. However, we understand that every unit is in different stages of this work. For those units who are fairly new to diversity, equity and inclusion strategizing, there may be areas that you already have some efforts focused. This might be a good first year goal. While working on that goal, your department may begin to work on building capacity through training and cross training of DEI work in your unit.
• Units that are more advanced to the process, great job on your progress to date. However, there is always more work to be done. It may be good for your unit to seek a goal that moves the work forward while focusing intently on systems, structures and practices beyond programming. A few generic examples of goals are:
  • Increase student retention from 79% to 82%.
  • Implement a plan to improve staff professional development, climate and belonging.
  • Review department policies for internship placements to ensure equitable access to internships.

What would be a good multi-year goal progression?

• Each unit will need to determine its exact goals, but each year should build upon the progress of the other. During your planning process, you should identify a few disparities and goals that you may consider in future years. Your team can use those as starting places for Years 3 and 4. In your full draft, units will select one goal for years 2, 3 and 4. However, after each year, units will have an opportunity to examine their goals for the following year to modify them, as needed.

What sort of check-ins with units will happen?

• We will offer two check-ins per semester to allow units to share their experiences, successes, best practices and areas of struggles. Invites will be sent to all unit leads who can share the invite with members of their team as they deem appropriate. Units can schedule their sessions should a need arise. Your unit can request this as needed by emailing Stavros Atsas at satsas@kent.edu. 

When will the climate study results be available to consider for the plans?

• Climate Study preliminary results will be available by October 2021. These results will only be aggregate quantitative data. Qualitative data and disaggregated reports will be made available by February 2022.

Will we receive updated unit compositional data? 

• Each unit will receive their compositional staff and student (if applicable) data upon submission of their Unit Lead’s information. Data is based upon university census dates for students (15th Day of Fall semester) and employees (November 1st of each year). After November 1st of each year, units will receive their updated compositional data. 

How do we get data that we don’t have/isn’t given to us?

• This depends on what data you are requesting or seeking to have. Your unit should work with your unit leader to determine what data is necessary. Once you determine what data you need, you can contact Stavros Atsas satsas@kent.edu with the data you would like to receive. Stavros is available to discuss data requests to best get the data that you need.

How do the units receive specific unit data? 

• Each unit will receive their compositional staff and student (if applicable) data upon submission of their Unit Lead’s information. If additional data is needed, consult your unit leader and Stavros to determine the best method to receive the data, if it is possible.

We’ve had staff changes since the data was pulled, can we get an updated report right now?

• Each unit will receive their compositional staff and student (if applicable) data upon submission of their Unit Lead’s information. Data is based upon university census dates for students (15th Day of Fall semester) and employees (November 1st of each year). After November 1st of each year, units will receive their updated compositional data.  No data will be updated until the next census date for this process. This will allow data to be comparable from year to year.

Do we all have to turn in draft plans?

• Yes, all units must turn in full drafts (as full as you can) by the deadline. These drafts will be reviewed by our reviewing team. The reviewing team is composed of two DPCB professional staff and two non-DPCB staff. Each unit will receive a Reviewer’s Report after they submit their information. The information from the Reviewer’s Report is meant to help units improve their plans before final submission.

How detailed do drafts have to be?

• Drafts should be as detailed and complete as possible.

Is our draft plan answering all questions?

• Yes, your draft should have a response to each question and section of the plan.

 Does the RACI chart get submitted?

• Yes, the RACI chart is submitted as part of your plan. The RACI chart will build accountability into the plan but will also allow us to assist your unit as you progress. We will be providing support for units as the year progresses with each goal. The RACI charts will help us provide support in as timely of a fashion as possible.

What are the actual deadlines for the plan?

• Drafts for Non-Academic Units are due on October 15th with the finalized plans due on July 8, 2022.
• Drafts for Academic Unit and Regional Campuses are due on November 19th with the finalized plans due on July 8, 2022.

How do we submit the plan?

• In September, the link to submit your plan will be shared with each unit lead. It will also be made available on the website. Check back in September for the link to take you to the submission database.

When will we hear feedback on our drafts?

• Each plan will be reviewed in the order that they are received. Units can expect to hear back as early as three weeks post submission, if submitted early. The Division of People, Culture and Belonging will make every effort to provide reports to units in a timely fashion.   Plans submitted between November 2021 and January 2022  should expect a response by mid-March at the latest.