Diversity, Representation, and Inclusion for Value in Education

Faculty, staff, and students in the UMass Chan community are deeply engaged in an institutional initiative titled DRIVE – Diversity, Representation and Inclusion for Value in Education.  

DRIVE is a shared effort across the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Diversity and Inclusion Office,  Lamar Soutter Library, Continuing Medical Education, and Graduate Medical Education.  

• To promote a representative and bias-free curriculum across our learning environments 
• To enhance the accuracy, representation, and inclusion of diverse populations in all our educational activities 
• To make space for critical conversations about diversity in teaching and learning across our community.  

DRIVE members offer regularly scheduled core-skills workshops, grand rounds presentations, and direct consultations with individuals to achieve these goals. Topical workshops are currently in development to further faculty’s success in applying skills to small group, individual, laboratory, and bedside teaching. Workshops can be tailored to meet group, team or departmental needs. Additionally, DRIVE has created a Curriculum Appraisal Tool (CAT) to enable faculty to create inclusive and appropriate educational materials to be presented in a supportive learning environment. The CAT is divided into six sections which align with institutional objectives, and each section addresses several key concepts with relevant probing questions and examples, as well as best practice and thought exercises. The Lamar Soutter Library curates an interactive library guide with expanded appraisal tools and linked resources. The initiative also offers an anonymous reporting tool to encourage feedback and promote institutional learning.