Symposium video archives

After a meteoric rise in 2020, it is no secret that DEI positions and initiatives have come under attack. Beyond the overt ways that DEI and "wokeism" have become political footballs, there are swelling critiques that suggest DEI efforts are irresponsibly superficial, devoid of measurable impact, and may in fact heighten workplace biases through compulsory, yet insufficient trainings.

Recent reporting also finds that DEI professionals have average tenures of less than two years, with 88% being a team of one, and 66% claiming they lack adequate resources. Organizations that rashly invested in DEI largely out of "fears of missing out" have predictably backtracked.

That has not been the case for CSU Extension, which has committed an unprecedented amount of resources over the past year to ensure that its programs and workplaces continue to grow in ways that can responsibly serve all Coloradoans. This session will share these efforts, highlighting its strategies, successes, and enduring challenges.