Annual Diversity Report 2022-23 | Diversity and Inclusion

The annual diversity report is a comprehensive report on the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts throughout the preceding year. It is intended to provide campus and community with a detailed overview on the inclusive excellence efforts at the University – through practice, research, and policy, while providing snapshots on the key data and statistics. This page represents key points of the report, and the full output can be downloaded below.

Download the Full Report

Inclusive Excellence at Nebraska MLK Week

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s MLK Week celebration featured opportunities for service, education, and conversation in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2023 theme was “The fierce urgency of now.” The week long celebration offered events for students, faculty, staff, and members of the Lincoln community.

The week’s events included:

Jan. 18: A Conversation with Brian Stokes Mitchell, two-time Tony Award winner
Jan. 23-27: Engage Lincoln
Jan. 24: Late Night Dish It Up: Divine Nine Edition
Jan. 25: MLK Commemorative Celebration
Jan. 27: Inclusive Teaching Strategies That Foster an Anti-Racist Classroom
Jan. 28: Afrikan Peoples Union MLK Banquet

Husker Dialogues

The annual Husker Dialogues are designed to introduce first year students to communication resources and tools that allow them to engage in meaningful conversations.

Husker Dialogues held in-person events in 2022 for the first time since the pandemic began. The multiple in-person opportunities were supplemented by a more limited virtual experience.

2022 Husker Dialogues, by the numbers:

1,083 first-year students attended
98.52% of attendees agreed that the conversation guides promoted respectful discussion
93.53% of attendees agreed that the student stories increased their awareness of diversity in the campus community
98.52% of attendees agreed that the conversation guides promoted respectful discussion
93.26% of attendees agreed that they will attend an event focused on diversity and inclusion in the next year
82% of attendees felt more confident in discussing diversity and inclusion issues
89.52% of attendees agreed that learning about diversity and inclusion is important in their university experience
74.43% of attendees found the event thought-provoking

Nebraska Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Awards

Instituted in 2021 and presented by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Nebraska Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Awards recognize individuals and groups who actively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in transformative and sustainable ways at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Our Nebraska Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Impact Awards recipients for the 2022-2023 were:

Dr. Markeya Peteranetz | Diversity Leadership Staff Award
Dr. Chad Brassil | Diversity Leadership Faculty Award
Jose Soto | Diversity Leadership Alumni Award
Peter Ferguson| Diversity Community Impact Award
Daelyn Zagurski | Promising Undergraduate Student Leader Award
Ritu Jadwani | Promising Graduate/Professional Student Leader Award
Middle Eastern and Northern African Student Association | Collective Impact Award

Learn more about the award winners

Collective Impact Conference

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion celebrates collective impacts across campus. To that end, we invited faculty, staff, and graduate students who champion DEI to an afternoon of connection, care, and development on March 30, 2023.

The conference:

Identified over 450 diversity champions from across campus through extensive online research, communication with unit supervisors and staff, the Council on Inclusive Excellence and Diversity, and college deans.
Executed a conference with over 200 registrations, one plenary session, nine breakout sessions, and a reception.
Initiated a partnership with Dining Services to “Continue the Conversation” by providing dining hall vouchers to those who want to continue connecting with people they met from across the university.

Impacting Excellence Through Community Engagement

Star City Pride Parade

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln was well-represented in Lincoln’s Star City Pride Festival on June 17-18, 2022. People from across Lincoln gathered downtown to support the LGBTQIA+ community for the second annual Star City Pride Parade on June 18.

Juneteenth

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln was well-represented in Lincoln’s Star City Pride Festival on June 17-18, 2022. People from across Lincoln gathered downtown to support the LGBTQIA+ community for the second annual Star City Pride Parade on June 18.

Excellence in Teaching and Practice

At Nebraska, diversity and inclusion are central to the mission and pursuit of excellence for all our academic colleges. Our colleges strive to be leaders in expanding opportunities and reducing barriers for all people in Nebraska and beyond through our enduring commitments to diversity, inclusion, and the relentless pursuit of scholarly excellence. True excellence requires that each individual be able to work and learn in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and acceptance. Each person has something to gain from and offer to our community of learning, discovery and outreach.

Visit the college Diversity and Inclusion websites:

Excellence in Leadership, Policy Research, and Development

University Libraries

University Libraries had a productive year in creating exhibits and programs, supporting campus and national inclusive excellence and diversity programs, and acquiring diverse content and collections.

Changes in policies and procedures improved recruitment efforts and acknowledged the inclusive excellence and diversity activities in evaluations. University Libraries identified strategic initiatives and partnerships that aligned with the commitment to “taking active steps towards inclusive excellence by deeply integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all our everyday work.”

Office of Research and Economic Development

The Office of Research and Economic Development is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion across the range of their research and creative activity. Following are examples of ways that Nebraska researchers are using their expertise to address issues facing underserved populations and to deepen society’s understanding of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, ideologies, and cultures.

Bridging connections between history, civil rights
Guiding mental health clinicians in treating transgender, gender diverse individuals
University joins GEM Consortium
STEM-POWER Research Program
STEM-POWER Researchers:
Marianna Burks, Instructor and science specialist for UNL’s TRIO Scholars Program
Kristi Montooth, Susan J. Rosowski Professor, Biological Science
Patricia Woch Hill, Research Associate Professor, Center for Science Mathematics & Computer Education and Department of Sociology

Excellence in Education, Climate, and Culture

Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services

The mission of the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services (OASIS) is to enhance student success by promoting academic excellence, diversity awareness, and social engagement. They seek to transform the lives of students through culturally sensitive academic support and retention services.

OASIS Student Success Program

Achieving Academic Success, by the numbers:

94% of students successfully completed the first-year seminar in the fall semester
48.8% of all OASIS Scholars achieved a 3.5 grade-point average or higher in the fall semester
47.7% of first-year scholars achieved a 3.5 or higher in the spring semester
17.3% achieved an ACT score of 26 or higher

Services are targeted to meet the needs of historically underrepresented populations such as first-generation, low-income, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, undocumented, ethnic or racial minorities, international students, and students with diverse identities. All are welcome.

Peer Mentorship Program

The Peer Mentorship Program is for student leaders assisting first-year students with the academic, social, and cultural engagement transition to UNL. Through one-on-one interactions and group meetings, thoughtful facilitators provide guidance and support to first-year students, serving as role models and successful advocates for navigating the first-year experience.

The OASIS program was a massive influence on the person I am today. Throughout the past 4 years, the program allowed me to meet some amazing people who have helped me grow both as a student and a mentor. As an OASIS peer mentor, it provided me with many opportunities that I would normally never have gotten.
Emmanuel Caliandro junior, Biological Science major

Athletics

Nebraska Athletics offers three affinity groups: Nebraska Athlete Ally (LGBTQIA+), Black Student Athlete Alliance, and International Student- Athlete Alliance. Student-athlete support and resource groups help student-athletes form a sense of community and belonging.

Student-athletes can also participate in a diversity leadership team. The Husker JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) team focuses on civic engagement. The group monitors bills through the discussion and voting stages in the Nebraska Legislature and keeps student-athletes and others informed on how those bills might affect them.

Staff and Coaches

Nebraska Athletics coordinates monthly Lunch and Learn sessions and provides tailored educational workshops that are meant to expand the knowledge and understanding of our staff and coaches and aid in healthy, productive conversations.