The Office of the Vice President & General Counsel at Indiana University was preparing for a system-wide audit. One portion of that audit involved IU School of Medicine faculty and staff completing background checks if they participated in programs that involved minors. They reached out to the Faculty Affairs unit of FAPDD to coordinate a communication plan to ensure the background checks were completed. This a time-sensitive project which involved various stakeholders’ concerns across the university system. I developed a step-by-step plan that pleased all collaborators.

IU School of Medicine hosts various unique events year-round to engage faculty, staff, and learners in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. By collaborating with health partners and identifying opportunities to network and cross-promote, the reach of diversity communications has widened.

2021 began with record-high registrations. Annual events such as the Cultural Awareness Town Hall would average less than 100 registrations. In 2021, there were 274 registrations. The first IU School of Medicine LGBTQ Health Care Conference had 125 registrants. Now in its fourth cycle, there were 1000 registrations. The Stepping Stones of Women in Leadership series use to average around 30 registrants per event, and now registrations have more than doubled!

With approximately 4,000 volunteer faculty across nine campuses, it was important to make sure this audience received content that was specific and relevant to their needs and concerns. Previously, this audience was included in a faculty newsletter that primarily contained content relevant to paid faculty. Separating that audience allowed FAPDD to craft content that uniquely aligned with how volunteers engage with the school at large. This led to an 8% increase in open rates amongst volunteer faculty.