by Kathy Rivers
The deadline for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Climate Survey has been extended until Tuesday, Oct. 4. More than 25,000 members of the VUMC Community have been invited to participate in this survey. So far, about 4,000 — or 19% — have completed the survey.
“The DEI Climate Survey is an ideal starting point to aid in removing the barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion at VUMC,” said Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Chief Equity Officer. “It will help us identify opportunities for both organizational change and individual empowerment for years to come. That’s why it is so important that as many people as possible complete the survey.”
Like the annual Culture survey, the DEI Climate survey will be conducted each year. This first one is being administered by Qualtrics, the same firm that manages our annual Culture survey. Key components include a glossary of terms, questions about inclusion, rating environments within teams/unit and experiences about microaggressions.
“We want all at VUMC to thrive because they have a strong sense of belonging,” said Kristy Sinkfield, MEd, Associate Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Office for Diversity Affairs. “This year’s survey will give us a better understanding our current inclusivity climate and will help steer us in the right direction so that we are a place where everyone feels welcome.”
Those who have not yet taken the survey will receive email reminders from Qualtrics with a unique link. Survey participation is voluntary, and all responses are confidential. Demographic information is also voluntary and confidential.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion partnered with Human Resources to design the Climate Survey and will share survey results enterprise-wide by December.
This Climate Survey is a key action in VUMC’s Racial Equity Plan, which includes eight thematic areas and 196 specific actions that VUMC and VUSM will take to advance racial equity. The actions are distributed across clinical, educational and research missions and the leaders responsible and accountable for each are identified.
