![Colleagues sit in a circle and converse.](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/buliding-buy-in-support-337x225.jpg)
Building High-Level Buy-In and Support
The success of a DEI Strategic Plan depends on the ability of planners and campus leaders to generate and sustain broad-based support within the campus community: from the executive ranks and departmental leadership to faculty, students and staff.
![A group of colleagues have a discussion on stage](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/organizing-implementing-strategic-plan-337x225.jpg)
Organizing and Implementing a Strategic Plan
Guiding the development of a strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusion—and orchestrating the implementation of that plan for a college campus—is a major endeavor and a daunting task.
![Two people laugh while having a conversation](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Creating-Leadership-Roles-and-Structures-337x225.jpg)
Creating Leadership Roles and Structures
Successful implementation of a DEI plan requires the activation of “point leadership” at various levels of the institution.
![A group of people hold hands and dance in a circle.](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Engaging-in-Your-Community-337x225.jpg)
Engaging in Your Community
What does it mean to engage your community? Addressing this question is a critical step in your DEI strategic plan and implementation process.
![Tabbye Chavous makes descriptive hand gestures while explaining a topic.](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Communicating-Why-We-Work-on-DEI-337x225.jpg)
Communicating Why We Work on DEI
Communication is essential at every stage of the planning and implementation process.
![A woman explains something to a man working on a computer.](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Budget-Planning-and-Process-337x225.jpg)
Budget Planning and Process
Budgets are a crucial component of all departments and operations, and enable the institution to achieve its goals and mission.
![A stack of branded handouts](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marketing-and-Communications-337x225.jpg)
Marketing and Communications
The University of Michigan’s decision to involve every unit in addressing DEI is based on the understanding that effective culture change requires an ongoing commitment throughout the organization.
![A large audience listens to a presentation in a conference room.](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Developing-DEI-Strategic-Plan-Launch-Event-337x225.jpg)
Developing a DEI Strategic Plan Launch and Anchoring Event
Engaging a campus – of any size, no less a large, decentralized campus – in a DEI Strategic Plan and Implementation process is a significant, multi-year endeavor.
![A group of people review documents.](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Evaluation-and-Assessment-337x225.jpg)
Evaluation and Assessment
To ensure accountability and transparency and to support evidence-based decision making, the U-M Five-Year DEI Strategic Plan calls for systems to track metrics assessing progress towards stated strategic objectives.
![The University of Michigan Law Quad](https://diversity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Legal-Issues-Planning-and-Implementation-337x225.jpg)
Legal Issues for Planning and Implementation
It’s critical to interact with your university’s legal counsel early on, as an integral part of the team for both planning and implementation.