August 2024 NatSci DEI Newsletter

August NatSci DEI Newsletter

In this issue

NatSci Values and Climate Survey
Cultural Competency Workshops
Student Organization Information
Important Dates
Lifelong learning
Health and well-being
Action List
Recognitions
Contact us

NatSci Values and Climate Survey

As part of 2022-2026 Strategic Plan NatSci conducted a NatSci Values and Climate Survey. Please review the three reports and let us know if you have any questions by emailing natsci.dei@msu.edu.

NatSci Employee final report

NatSci Graduate Student final report

NatSci Undergraduate Student final report

Cultural Competency Workshops

Registration is now open for the Fall 2024 semester NatSci Cultural Competency Workshops for MSU NatSci employees and graduate students!

To learn more about the workshops, click here.

Student Organization Information

Are you a NatSci RSO with an upcoming event you'd like to spread the word about? Message us on the NatSci DEI Instagram page (natsci.dei) with a flyer and information and we will share it for you!

Important Dates

August 9th is World Indigenous People's Day

August 26th is Women's Equality Day

August 31st is International Day for People of African Descent

Lifelong Learning

Here are some fun STEM related activities and places in Michigan!

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Cranbrook Institute of Science

Michigan Science Center

The Michigan STEM Partnership

Sloan Museum of Discovery

The Henry Ford Museum

Other resources

The MSU Black Book

Mental health and well-being

Please take care of your health and well-being. Please use the resources below for support.

Action List

We have created a document to assist in ordering food. Our Inclusive Dietary Document includes availability of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options for many local places around East Lansing. It also includes "do's and don'ts" for ordering food for inclusive groups.

We have created an Inclusive Language Document to assist in replacing harmful language with more inclusive terminology. It provides many words that may be harmful and what you may use to replace them.

President Guskiewicz recently gave an update on the spaces in Berkey Hall and the MSU Union involved during February 13th 2023. Classes will also not be held on February 13th 2025, except for some graduate and professional classes.

Read the full announcement here.

A new program has been launched within NatSci! The NatSci Future Faculty Postdoctoral program will help with moving forward the NatSci Strategic Plan with improving inclusion and diversity of the staff and faculty.

More information about this program here.

Inclusive Pedagogy

Participation in blended courses research project

Do you teach a blended / hybrid undergraduate course at MSU?
Are you interested in transitioning your course to a blended format?
Would like to be part of the study and professional development community related to blended courses?

MSU’s Enhanced Digital Learning Initiative (EDLI) is seeking instructors interested in or already implementing blended undergraduate courses in all disciplines to participate in an NSF-funded study for one or more semesters between Spring 2024 – Fall 2025.

View complete recruitment information here.

Schedule a consultation

Need assistance or advice about accessibility in your classroom? Request an accessibility consultation with the Instructional Technology and Development group.

Get accessibility training!

Deque University offers online, self-paced training. Deque's comprehensive web and digital accessibility curriculum covers the full range of topics, with classes designed for a variety of professionals.

Upcoming classroom accessibility training

Removing Barriers to Learning: Improve D2L Course Usability and Accessibility with Ally – Thursday, August 22, 12:30 – 1:30

Upcoming workshops for instructors

CTLI 2024 Fall Educator Seminars – August 22 & 23

Various free trainings and webinars are offered each day to help prepare MSU educators for the new academic year. Topics range from D2L basics and effective class management to evidence-based pedagogy to GenAI.

MSU IT Educational Technology Training website

Educational technology workshops covering topics to help faculty use MSU-supported software in their classrooms. Workshops occur throughout the semester.

The University has updated its policies surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions for students and employees.

You can read these updated policies here.

If you suspect misconduct has happened or have a concern about it, you can contact the MSU Misconduct Hotline at 1-800-763-0764, or reach out to them at misconduct.msu.edu.

The office of ASMSU Student Rights Advocates provides assistance to students in University-related affairs involving the MSU conduct system, residence hall life, and more. The SRA office is not funded by any university department, and operates as a

confidential and independent resource for students. Student Rights Advocates cannot dispense legal advice, For legal advice,

contact Student Legal Services at (517) 353-37163

The 1855 Scholarship proposal submissions are now open! Until August 26th, 2024, professors can submit a proposal of up to three pages to their college's Dean for approval. The college Deans can then submit the proposals to Ashley Green at agreen@msu.edu

Selection includes the title of 1855 professor, the faculty line supported by the provost or EVPHS, and a five-year commitment of $30K per year for assistant and associate professors or $50K per year for full professors. The funding will be allocated in the year of hire and should be used for start-up or research costs. The 1855 initiative does not offer additional start-up funding. All 1855 Professors will be invited to an ongoing community of scholars to share their work and amplify impact.

Scholarship information in this pdf.

Recognitions

Congratulations to NatSci's Eric Hegg as he receives the recommendation to the Board of Trustees to become the next Dean of the College of Natural Science!

Read the full article here.

NatSci professor Josh Vermaas has been awarded a nearly $1.8 million MIRA grant for 5 years from the National Institutes of Health!

Read the full article here .

NatSci and Department of Integrative Biology professor Patricia Soranno, has been selected as one of 11 chapter leads for the U.S National Nature Assessment, the first of its kind. The assessment will work to understand the benefits granted to people through nature, and how they may change due to global climate change.

Read the full article here.