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Introducing the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship (IDEA) Performance Maturity Framework by Attain Partners

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Measuring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Recent events within the last few years have shed light on systemic racism and the social injustices that many have had to endure. These events have been a catalyst for institutions to identify and improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. As many institutions begin to explore and measure their DEI impacts on their students, staff, faculty members, and communities, many are revamping their internal structures to provide a more welcoming environment that promotes inclusion and eliminates any instances that go against diversity, equity, and inclusion for all constituents.

As institutions progress on the journey to a more diverse and inclusive environment, Attain Partners has developed an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship (IDEA) Performance Maturity Framework that evaluates how effectively existing practices yield a sense of belonging within the campus environment. Based on current-state performance, institutions are evaluated and assigned a level of performance maturity ranging from foundational to optimized. Our new tool allows institutions to establish a clear understanding of their current DEI practices as well as outline actionable steps for future improvements and ultimately, advancement to an optimized state where DEI is a competitive advantage for the institution.

A Structured Assessment of DEI Practices

Our assessment tool evaluates DEI practices across the following five dimensions, transforming subjective, qualitative data into tangible, quantitative results from which improvement can be measured.

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Analysis of these five core areas can council countless growth opportunities. Understanding your current strengths is critical to the success of your DEI journey. Learn more about our IDEA Performance Maturity Framework here.

For more information on how to develop a strategy that supports your institution’s DEI efforts and a chance to explore our new tool, fill out the form below. For additional insights, please refer to our latest blog posts and case studies about DEI here.

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About the Author

Reshma Patel-Jackson is a Partner and Practice Lead for the Strategic Transformation Services practice of Attain Partners. She is responsible for and involved in a wide range of consulting initiatives, primarily on change management, strategic planning, business process improvement, organizational assessments, project management, and research administration. Mrs. Patel-Jackson is a Prosci® Certified Change Management Practitioner who has extensive knowledge and training in the field. She has provided strategic planning, project management, change management, internal audit, compliance, and costing services for a variety of nonprofit, higher education, government contracting, and commercial clients.