MindHandHeart Department Support Project School of Science Learn at Lunch May 29, 2019

1. MindHandHeart Department Support Project School of ScienceLearn at LunchMay 29, 2019 Maryanne Kirkbride

2. Helping to build communities, large and small • MindHandHeart: • MindHandHeart is a coalition of students, faculty, and staff with fresh insights, new ideas, and diverse perspectives working collaboratively and strategically to strengthen the fabric of our MIT community. • MindHandHeart Department Support Project • Providing actionable insights from data, sharing promising practices and tapping campus experts to enhance the welcoming and inclusive nature of our department environments

3. MindHandHeart - Community Wide (2015) • Partnered with a national non-profit (Jed Foundation) • Focused on a network of innovation • Engaged the community in actions shown by research to make a difference • Working groups • Innovation Fund • Random Acts of Kindness Week • Events

4. MindHandHeart Innovation Fund • 8 grant cycles, 92 projects • 14 are now self-sustaining • You are eligible to apply! • Past projects include: The Puppy Lab, Random Acts of Kindness Week, You Belong @ MIT, and MIT Connect.

5. MindHandHeart Random Acts of Kindness Week! • Campus wide participation • Fun ideas • Look for us next March!

6. MindHandHeart Department Support Project (2017): The Initial Charge How can we sustainably support department heads in enhancing the welcoming and inclusive nature of MIT’s academic areas while honoring the positive unique and distinguishing characteristics of each unit ?

8. How does the Department Support Project work? • Invitation from the Provost • Support from the School Deans • Partner with Department Heads • Understand current environment • Plan and make enhancements • Tap campus resources • Share practices across the Institute

9. MindHandHeart Department Support Project: Challenges and Successes Challenges Successes Use of data to drive action Faculty to faculty resource connections Student to student promising practices Case example Engagement Brainstorm Prioritize Act • Students (and likely others) are skeptical • Overconfidence/lack of shared sense of urgency • Understanding experiences of those from marginalized communities • Staying lean: Collaboration v. consultation

10. Next steps • Use newly released climate survey data to support department initiatives • Consider the culture and climate of labs and centers • Increase ‘face validity’ of campus efforts • Every unit will have an action plan by 1/2020 • Bring people together to solve problems they might not know they share!

11. Feedback and Brainstorming • In what ways is your area welcoming and inclusive already? • What immediate steps can we take to make our departments, labs and centers even more welcoming? • What unique strengths and challenges do staff have in this area that are not shared by faculty or students? • What advice do you have for MindHandHeart for next year and into the future?

12. Thank you • Contact information: kirk@med.mit.edu • Connect with MindHandHeart:Website  |  E-newsletter  |  Facebook • Twitter  |  YouTube

13. Four-semester roll out Introductory meetings with Maryanne and Frances Hosting Visiting Committees Finalizing and implementing action plans Brainstorming and Prioritizing Options