In 2020, amidst the dialogue on racial injustice, it became evident that NIRSA also required a reassessment of its priorities. To achieve this, a collaborative effort involving 122 Consulting, NIRSA Staff, and the establishment of a Climate Study Steering Committee comprising NIRSA volunteers was initiated to evaluate NIRSA’s climate, culture, and structures. Initial insights were presented to membership during the 2022 NIRSA Annual Conference held in Portland, Oregon. Following the conference, formal reports and executive summaries were disseminated to members through continued communication channels leading to the development of the JDEI Implementation Team.
Over the past year, JDEI Implementation Team members have been actively engaged in crafting a set of unified expectations centered around belonging. NIRSA’s Shared Expectations for Belonging was published in November 2023 and introduced at the NIRSA Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona as a foundational pilar in NIRSA’s Strategic Framework for 2024–2027.
This acknowledgement supports the importance of personal growth and the benefits of anchoring our efforts in these shared expectations as we cultivate an inclusive environment within our association.
As NIRSA’s Shared Expectations for Belonging were being finalized, simultaneous efforts were underway to address the implementation of recommendations regarding education and grievance procedures. The JDEI Education Implementation Subgroup focused on developing scaffolded learning outcomes for belonging. Five learning outcomes were formulated for each aspect (justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect) following a scaffolded progression: (a) recognition, (b) explanation, (c) analysis, (d) evaluation, and (e) creation. This process of developing scaffolded learning outcomes also prompted discussion about a future review of NIRSA’s professional competencies.
In addition to education, we dedicated time to exploring a more transparent process for members to report grievances or address concerns regarding exclusionary behavior. The team reviewed grievance policies from other professional associations within higher education. The team identified three primary areas of focus for the next phase of efforts spearheaded by NIRSA Staff and volunteer leadership around bias incident reporting, policy revision, and procedural enhancements.
Leadership transition
We’re excited to announce that in the upcoming year the JDEI Implementation Team will transition into the Culture and Belonging Integration Task Force and will be co-chaired by Austin Anderson, Associate Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, and Marc Iturriaga, Executive Director at Mohawk College and the Mohawk Students’ Association. The following NIRSA members and NIRSA Staff members complete the roster:
- Elishea Borin, NIRSA Senior Executive Assistant
- Victoria Lopez-Herrera, Senior Associate Director at The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Serita Porter, Director, Recreational Services at Lincoln University
- Abby Van Note, Assistant Director of Inclusion, Club & Community Programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Mirum Washington-White, Director of Athletics & Intramural Sports and Faculty at St Cyril of Alexandria School
In the upcoming year the team will dedicate time to:
- Creating and delivering educational content for the dimensions of belonging
- Cultivating relationships with MSIs
- Diverse membership recruitment
- Continuation of inclusive policy review
- Grievance policy development
Our work is continuous and relies on intentional dedication from NIRSA Staff, volunteer leadership, and engaged members. We aim to cultivate an environment that nurtures the growth of professionals and students, members and non-members, as well as underrepresented communities and minority-serving institutions. Our goal is to encourage learning and the adoption of best practices within NIRSA, inspiring others to initiate and enact positive change in the Association and on their respective campuses or institutions.
- If you would like to learn more, have questions, or are interested in giving back to NIRSA through this work, please contact any of the co-chairs from the Implementation Team.
Cara Lucia, Ph.D is currently an associate professor at Elon University. She served as the 2021-2022 NIRSA President.
Victoria Lopez-Herrera is currently Senior Associate Director at the University of Texas at San Antonio and an At-Large Director on the NIRSA Board of Directors; you can email her at victoria.lopez-herrera@utsa.edu.
