Baker College prioritized diversity and inclusion by implementing a training program for faculty and staff that emphasizes training in multiple areas identified as key components to making its campuses welcoming to all. The efforts by Baker College have now been recognized by an international organization focused on diversity training.
Baker College announced recently in a press release that it has been recognized for its diversity and inclusion program. The Baker DEI Council is a central part of the college's strategic plan in terms of diversity. The Baker DEI Council is focused primarily on diversity and inclusion education for staff and faculty. The award comes from The Centre for Global Inclusion, which is an organization that publishes a guide to promoting diversity and inclusion, called Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks (GDIB). The award is given when an institution like Baker College addresses controversial and challenging issues in an effective way.
The GDIB Practice Benchmark 7.4 is given when an organization addresses issues of diversity and inclusion with sensitivity, fairness, conviction, and compassion. The areas of diversity that are encouraged to be addressed by the benchmark guidelines include racism, sexism, religious bias, classism, ageism, among other areas. The Baker DEI Council has used the past year to focus on professional development to faculty and staff. The DEI Training Committee, a subcommittee of the Baker DEI Council, instituted a plan that includes ten learning modules that are being offered throughout the 2020-2021 academic year in a live virtual format, and are also accessible in a recorded version.
The Baker DEI Council consists of representatives from across Baker departments and campuses and the DEI training committee selected the ten topics addressed by the learning modules. The topics are Demographic Forecasts (providing data on how demographics in the US are changing and how the college can plan to adapt), implicit bias and stereotypes, microaggressions and allyship, race, power and privilege, intersectionality, cross-cultural communication, LGBTQIA+ and gender equity, ableism and disability justice, respect and inclusion, and generational dynamics and challenges. In a press release, Baker College emphasized that by improving competence within the staff and faculty, they can achieve the goals of the DEI and make Baker College a more welcoming and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students.