May NatSci DEI Newsletter

In this issue

NatSci Values and Climate Survey
Upcoming Events and Sponsorships
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

Upcoming Events and Sponsorships

Michigan State is celebrating Juneteenth this year with the 4th annual Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration on Friday June 14th from 5-8:30pm at the Breslin Center!

This year's theme is Acknowledging the Journey: Freedom, Resilience, Empowerment and Liberation.

Black Wall Street Vendor Fair: The Juneteenth Planning Committee invites local entrepreneurs to apply for vendor space. Complete the vendor application form.

Visit the website for more information here.

Several student on their laptops doing homework

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

May 5th-6th is Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills

May 5th is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

May 16th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day

May 17th is International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month

Mental Health Awareness Month

Photo by Nick Goldblatt

Lifelong Learning

Excellence in Stem (21st Century Skills Library: Racial Justice in America: AAPI Excellence and Achievement)

STEM Education from Asia (Routledge Critical Studies in Asian Education)

Black Mental Health Matters: The Ultimate Guide for Mental Health Awareness in the Black Community

Mental Health Workbook: 6 Books in 1: The Attachment Theory, Abandonment Anxiety, Depression in Relationships, Addiction, Complex PTSD, Trauma, CBT Therapy, EMDR and Somatic Psychotherapy

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.

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.

Schedule a consultation

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

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

We congratulate all NatSci students who are graduating this semester! Have fun and good luck on your future endeavors!

We congratulate the NatSci DEI Office's Kendra Pyle for graduating with a graduate degree in social work! We thank you for all the effort and work you've done for NatSci and the DEI Office and wish you luck on your future endeavors.

NatSci Plant Biology professor Tammy Long was the recipient of the 2024 President’s Distinguished Teaching Award!

Read the full article here.

We thank the members of DEIAC for their service to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the 2023-24 school year!

The roster for the 2023-24 DEIAC includes Anthony Kendall, Maeve McLaughlin, Damien Sheppard, Ariel Robbins, Eleri Thomas, Kirsten Tollefson, Chrysoula Vasileiou, Claudia Vergara, Danielle Flores Lopez, Diana Bello-DeOcampo, Kendra Pyle, Sue McQuiston, Lori Seischab, Farina Aziz, Bella Harold, Genna Moldovan, Jenifer Saldanha, Emmanuel Olapade, Dan Salazar, Harish Sankaranarayanan, Lisa Keller, Jorhie Beadle, Bill Henry, Elizabeth Johnson, Brent Nelson, and Mohammad Mostofa.

On May 8th at the Student Success Summit 2024, this award was given to the NatSci Student Success Team; Danielle Flores Lopez, Kanchan Pavangadkar, Jenny Freitas, and Lisa Henry. We congratulate them on their hard work this semester!