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Knowledge Communities

The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Knowledge Communities Grants provide opportunities for staff and faculty at the University of Michigan to actively collaborate on scholarship-to-practice initiatives to drive institutional transformation on campus and across the country.

Knowledge Communities are grounded in inquiry and knowledge building. They integrate the scholarship and theory of scholars with the experience and expertise of practitioners in order to bridge the gap between theory and practice. This integration generates new knowledge, practices, and innovations which will be documented through the creation of products and artifacts by the Knowledge Community.

Each Knowledge Community should focus on a specific DEI theme, topic, or issue. They are co-led by a staff and faculty member to encourage collaboration and the use of expertise across roles and functions. Ideally, each Knowledge Community will include 6-12 participants, who will meet regularly over an 18-month period. During this time, the Knowledge Community will establish goals, plan activities, and create a product/artifacts related to the theme, topic, or issue. At the end of the 18 months, the Knowledge Community will submit a 2-3 page report of activities and knowledge gained through the process.

These grants are offered annually for an 18-month duration, and applicants may apply for up to $5,000 in funding.

Through this initiative, we aim to:

  • Connect faculty and staff who might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact. Knowledge Communities allow faculty and staff to build a network where they can learn from each other’s knowledge, expertise, and experience.
  • Cultivate existing knowledge and practices on campus to help faculty and staff improve their own practice and develop cross-campus collaborations. Knowledge Communities provide a forum to identify solutions to common problems and a process to collect and evaluate best practices.
  • Create new knowledge and understanding around DEI issues and practices. Knowledge Communities equip faculty and staff with new insights in order to transform their own practice and the practices of their respective units in order to create cross-campus institutional change.

Currently not accepting applications.