Page 37 - BEQ Magazine Iss 20 Fall 2021 WebRev09272021

A Pride display at Eastern Michigan University . | COURTESY PHOTO

at the forefront,” Finkenbine said. “So we have our overarching institutional commitment to diversity,
trans/non-binary/questioning support group, or equity and inclusion will be woven into all of these
TNQ. We have our asexual/aromantic support group. priorities.”
We have our queer and trans people of color collec- In speaking with BEQ Pride, Smith said Eastern
tive. These are all really student-run and student-led, Michigan University’s commitment to creating a
because students are the experts of their experience. diverse community gives students a “broader range
We try to center their voices in those spaces.” of perspectives” which introduces them to “new and
Located in Ypsilanti, Mich., between Ann Arbor different ways of thinking.”
and Detroit, Eastern Michigan University has an “We take great pride in creating what we describe
enrollment of about 16,000 undergraduate and as a global classroom — preparing students for the
graduate students. Founded as a teacher’s college in global world they will live and work in where they
1849, the institution has a long history of embracing will be side-by-side with people from different cul-
diversity. But by the dawn of the 21st century, the tures, backgrounds and identities,” he said.
state university was struggling, as were many public Smith said focusing on diversity and actively AMY
and private higher education institutions across the recruiting diverse student bodies is essential to FINKENBINE,
country. When Dr. James Smith accepted the posi- understanding those different perspectives and LGBT Resource
Center
tion of university president in 2016, he undertook a challenges.
coordinator . |
turnaround plan to bring the institution into fiscal “How would we build solutions to problems a COURTESY PHOTO
viability. Within two years, they regained financial homogenous population might never consider or
stability, and, working with stakeholders across certainly never truly understand?” he said. “The
campus, Smith developed an updated strategic plan. return on investment is truly based on belonging-
The updated plan focuses on promoting student ness. If students find comfort on campus and feel
success and engagement, providing high-quality they genuinely belong here, they make us a stronger
academic programs and quality research and engag- institution. They share this with their friends, which
ing and serving the surrounding communities. When attracts new students. We retain them because they
introducing the current strategic plan to the campus remain active and engaged with the University
community in 2019, Smith said, “An important through graduation. They may move into graduate

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