In summer 2022, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion embarked on a project to “map” campus diversity and inclusion efforts. Based on the research of Dr. Rona Halualani, this is a process of self-inquiry that involves documenting such resources and initiatives, and is a valuable tool “for locating a higher education institution's ‘actual’ – not projected – engagement with, and implementation of, diversity efforts.”

The visualization is a formative step toward a more complex understanding of campus diversity and inclusion efforts, where they fall within the structure of the institution, and how they are connected to each other. It provides a snapshot of the ecosystem of diversity and inclusion efforts in which singular pieces of information that typically exist in isolation and campus silos are placed within a larger, holistic portrait that organizes the information in relation to one another, creating a more comprehensive view of these efforts both structurally and thematically.

Access the map here.

Process

Diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives were defined as those whose purpose directly and primarily supports the vision statement for institutional diversity and inclusion at Marquette.

Data were collected by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) with support from the University Committee on Equity and Inclusion. An initial visualization was created and continues to be maintained by the OIDI graduate assistant.

Map functionality

The map was created using kumu. This program helped us construct a visual representation of the complex ecosystem of diversity efforts on campus.

Each circle on the map represents a resource or initiative for diversity and inclusion at Marquette and is identified by a “label.” By clicking on a circle, users can see the description of the resource along with a link to more information.

The legend and color coding provide the user with the “type” of resource or initiative in broad strokes.

The “element” category provides a more granular classification.

Each resource or initiative is connected to others through a solid-line connection that represents a direct reporting line, or a dotted line that represents a collaborative relationship.

Users can reconfigure their view of the map by clicking on the “settings” tab on the righthand side of the screen, and reorganize the entries’ colors and connections by their type, element, and/or label. Users may also zoom in or out, or highlight particular connections by clicking on an individual circle.

For more functionality options, there are many kumu tutorials and help documents available online.

What’s Next?

The visualization is a diagrammatic exercise and is often just a first step in a process that culminates in an in-depth analysis of the institution's level of commitment and action around diversity and an evaluation of the impact of those efforts.

The baseline information provided by the map can be used by various campus offices and divisions to identify and measure progress toward campus-wide initiatives such as the Culture of Inclusion theme from the university’s strategic plan, Beyond Boundaries, as well as college-, division-, office-, and department-level diversity and inclusion plans. In particular, it provides a tool for identifying areas of strength and coordination, as well as opportunities for growth and connection.

Contact

For questions or suggested revisions or additions to the diversity map, please contact Michael Vazquez, graduate assistant in the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, or Jacki Black, director for Hispanic initiatives and diversity & inclusion educational programming.