UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (MAC) HISTORY In 1994 / 95, we conducted a cultural audit at the University of Michigan – School of Dentistry to analyze the cultural climate in our school. We collected survey data from patients, students, staff and faculty members, observational data concerning disability issues, focus group data from members of our school with specific characteristics such as from older adults or from persons who self identified as LGB, statistical information about recruitment and retention of persons from underrepresented minority backgrounds, and analyzed which resource materials our library had. After analyzing all these data, we came up with recommendations. One of the recommendations was to have a multicultural affairs committee and the MAC was born as a school committee that reports to directly to the dean. WHO? The MAC consists of students, staff and faculty members. To recruit new members, an is sent to the dental school community and everybody is asked to self nominate or to nominate others. The MAC members review the nominations and suggest nominees to the dean that represent the school wide community. The dean appoints the members. ONCE IN A WHILE In 2005/06 we repeated the survey section of the cultural audit from 1994/95. In collaboration with the ADVANCE Program, we again collected data from students, staff and faculty members. After analyzing the data, MAC made recommendations to the dean for changes. ONCE A YEAR MLK celebration & Ida Gray Award: Every year, MAC organizes an MLK event on the afternoon of MLK Day for the members of the SoD. At the MLK event, the Ida Gray awards are presented by the dean to the student, staff and faculty member who in one way or another contributed to making the cultural climate in our school better. Orientation Programs for incoming dental and dental hygiene students The entering dental and dental hygiene classes participate in two classroom based diversity related orientation sessions and visit the African American History Museum in Detroit and the Farmington Hills Holocaust Memorial. AND THEN? A FEW TIMES A YEAR About three times a year, we distribute the MULTICULTURAL MIRROR This newsletter informs the SoD members about ongoing events, new members of our community, and holiday celebrations. The newsletter is distributed to our dental school community as an attachment. Hard copies are distributed as well. MONTHLY Disability CE events Once a month, a free continuing education program for staff and faculty in the school about treating patients with special needs. This program started in January 2002 and has since been conducted every month during the year with a summer break in July and August. University of Michigan – School of Dentistry Multicultural Affairs Committee Free CE Series on “Treating Patients with Special Needs” Fall 2010 September: Sleep apnea October:Treating pediatric patients with special needs November:Oral hygiene services for patients with developmental disabilities December: Diabetes and periodontal disease Winter 2011 January: Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Disease February: Periodontitis and Pregnancy Outcomes March: ADHD and interactions in the dental office April:Child abuse, elder abuse and domestic violence. Spring 2011 May: Treating patients in the emergency room June: Treating patients with HIV/AIDS Raising awareness brown bags We organize monthly brown bags presented by members of our school that report about their country of origin or their travels to another country. “Getting to Know YOU” Brown Bag presentations October 2010Dr. May reports about the Kenya trip November 2010Evelyn and Victoria Lucas-Perry will talk about their Jamaica trip December 2010The Muslim Dental Student Association reports January 2011Hispanic Dental Association reports February 2011Luke Danning, Jon Hekman & Stephen Mancewicz report about Honduras trip April 2010Yoshita Patel – Dental Care in India May 2011Miran Forsyth reports about Guayana trip EVERY DAY Our director of multicultural affairs works continuously to raise awareness and advocate. Our ethnic student organizations such as the SNDA, HDA, Muslim and Asian student groups make our school a better place for all students We all celebrate the diversity of our patients, students, staff and faculty members. MISSION The mission of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Multicultural Affairs Committee is to create an atmosphere where students, staff, faculty and patients can inter-act and benefit in a supportive environment by promoting justice and by exploring and celebrating differences and similarities. The Multicultural Affairs Committee will contribute to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s process for achieving excellence through diversity by: - Providing directions for changed and promoting progress based on current and previous findings of the Multicultural Initiatives Committee; - Acting as an advisory committee to the Dean of School and providing yearly progress reports to the Dean for dissemination; - Supporting other groups and committees in promoting multiculturalism and diversity. The University of Michigan School of Dentistry Martin Luther King, Jr. Day "A Diversity Buffet and Taste of Culture" Monday, January 17, :00—4:00 p.m. Student Forum ONCE A YEAR Taste fest About once a year, we organize a potluck lunch in our atrium - tastefully defined as Taste fest. We encourage our participants to decorate their tables with cultural artifacts from their own culture and share a dish that is typical for their own culture. Women’s month activity In March, we celebrate Women’s Month with an event such as a tea or a craft fair.