The brutal injustice of George Floyd's death at the hands of police has continued to galvanize people across the nation to demand real change to combat systemic racism. The demands extend beyond changes in police practices and apply to all aspects of society, including health care, educational reform, and economic equity.

Wayne State has a long history of meaningful engagement with society, and our mission includes "positively impacting local and global communities." What better university than Wayne State to step up in this time of need and take real action? Who better than our campus community to demonstrate through real action how to reduce and eliminate implicit and explicit biases, and improve diversity, equity and inclusion?

In my view, no university is better prepared and poised to make a difference, and in June 2020 I announced the creation of the Social Justice Action Committee (SJAC) to drive culture change and foster a climate of inclusion and equity throughout the university. 

The charge of the committee was to (1) examine internal policies, procedures, and practices to identify bias throughout the Wayne State University campus that may disproportionately disadvantage historically marginalized peoples, and also (2) recommend specific actions for consideration of immediate, medium, and long-term implementation to eliminate the identified bias and to advance social justice and equity for historically marginalized peoples at Wayne State University. 

SJAC is subdivided to provide leadership for the following working groups:

• Hiring and retention of diverse faculty.
• Hiring and retention of a diverse staff.
• Student access and success.
• Policing.
• Intercultural education and training, i.e., the development of educational experiences/training around issues of implicit bias in hiring and retention, race and racism, and other issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Campus climate continues to turn the results of the Campus Climate Study into substantive change.
• University DEI initiatives include university-wide projects, initiatives, and other efforts that impact both the campus and the larger community of which we are apart.

Committee membership featured broad representation, including faculty, staff, students, community leaders, and administrators at all levels of the university.  

In March 2021, the SJAC presented its full report of findings, recommendations, and action steps from each working group. The committee ended following its presentation, but one of its recommendations the formation of a DEI Council was implemented to develop policies, procedures, and practices that bring about equitable outcomes for everyone. Led by Marquita T. Chamblee, the DEI Council has been established to:

• Facilitate communication of DEI initiatives across the university in schools, colleges, and divisions, and foster collaboration between units on related efforts.
• Receive recommendations from SJAC working groups and develop implementation strategies.
• Monitor data and work with the campus climate working group to assess DEI across the university.
• Review DEI plans at peer institutions to identify best practices that can inform and strengthen Wayne State's efforts.
• Advise the president and chief diversity officer in matters related to DEI initiatives across campus.  

While there are individuals and units responsible for leading this work, the responsibility for creating a bias-free, inclusive and equitable institution rests with each of us. We can make our mission a reality, and we can, together, create a more equitable society, starting right here and right now in our campus community.

M. Roy Wilson
President