The Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine recognizes that diversity is a driver of institutional excellence and innovation. As such, the College must intentionally position itself to identify, attract, recruit, and retain talented faculty, staff, and students who embrace and are representative of the diverse populations across its local, regional, national, and global communities.

In service of these goals, the College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion has established three key strategic outcomes: increase diverse populations of students, faculty, and staff; embed cross-cultural learning opportunities for faculty, staff, and students; and create a culture of respect for and appreciation of others.

Diverse populations within the College have increased by nearly .4 percent. Through the Martin Luther King Jr.-César Chávez-Rosa Parks Initiative, the College served 417 students who have declared interest in pre-veterinary medicine and are from under-represented populations in veterinary medicine or disadvantaged backgrounds. Part of this initiative is to enhance the academic progress of these students. This year, the baseline GPA increased from 2.5 to 2.7.

“We have to create the framework to meet our diversity goals. The first step is to create a culture of mutual respect that welcomes students, staff, and faculty to an environment where each of us can grow successfully,” says Dr. Hilda Mejia Abreu, associate dean for Admissions, Student Life,
and Inclusivity.