Department of Genetics

All genetics faculty complete 1 hour Bias 101 training by the end of the year (required for positive performance review in 2021)

December 2020- 42 faculty have completed training.  

February 2021- 2nd BIAS 101 session for department is March 15.

Person/Dept Responsible: Chris Gregory

Include DEI in faculty evaluations (i.e., person is able demonstrate what they have done annually to promote DEI)

December 2020- Statement of contribution to diversity Included in faculty activity report.  

February 2021- Request for lab demographics now included in faculty activity report

Person/Dept Responsible: Chris Gregory

Develop departmental guidelines by end of 2020 on qualifying DEI activities

December 2020- Not started 

February 2021- SOM APT guidelines- examples of qualified DEI activities discussed with dept Advisory Committee

Person/Dept Responsible: Department leadership and DEI committee

Highlight URM faculty, staff, and students and upcoming DEI initiatives on department website

December 2020- DEI tab set up; new content added frequently; have not highlighted anyone.

February 2021- Relevant content added to website regularly

Person/Dept Responsible: DEI Committee

Identify programs for culturally aware mentoring of students and postdocs. 

December 2020- Included in website and weekly emails

February 2021- Included in website and weekly emails

Person/Dept Responsible: DEI Committee

External URM Postdoctoral Visit Program.  The department will invite highly accomplished URM postdocs to visit UNC for a seminar and interviews with faculty and trainees.

December 2020- One speaker invited 

February 2021- Two URM postdoc speakers scheduled for spring seminar series (April 7 and 14)

Person/Dept Responsible: Brea Hampton, Marty Ferris, Mark Heise

Recruitment: Develop and approve a policy and a process for identification and selection of candidates for the VITAE program

December 2020- On hold

February 2021- VITAE program on hold (according to provost). FIRST grant will not be submitted this year

Person/Dept Responsible: Chris Gregory and Rosanne Farber and an ad hoc task force

Recruitment: Use the VITAE program to hire at least one tenure track/tenured faculty within the next 30 months

December 2020- On hold 

February 2021- VITAE program on hold

Person/Dept Responsible: Department leadership

Recruitment: For tenure track/tenured faculty Departmental searches

• Target outreach to URMs by advertising to HBCUs and URM-based liaisons/sub-committees in academic societies.

December 2020- On hold

February 2021- No faculty hiring at this time, due to pandemic restrictions

Person/Dept Responsible: Department leadership

Revise standard job description so more welcoming to URM applicants

December 2020- On hold

February 2021- On hold 

Person/Dept Responsible: Department leadership and DEI Committee

Improving the department web site. Announce DEI events, highlight under-represented faculty, staff and students, and outreach efforts.

December 2020- Completed and ongoing

February 2021- Faculty profiles updated with list of mentoring and DEI trainings completed

Person/Dept Responsible: DEI Committee, John Cornett

Provide opportunities and means by which faculty can participate in diversity efforts.

This will be done by outreach to faculty post docs and student and also through departmental announcements

December 2020- Ongoing

February 2021- Monthly department townhalls with DEI topic. DEI discussions during monthly advisory committee meetings. Department will pay for admins, DEI committee and advisory committee members (n=35) to attend REI Phase I Training this spring/summer

Person/Dept Responsible: Chris Gregory

Identify programs for culturally aware mentoring

Person/Dept Responsible: DL committee