MSU Extension 4-H Volunteering & Mentoring

We work and volunteer in a diverse world. How are diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives reflected in your organization’s volunteer screening processes? Including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in volunteer screening is essential to creating fair and welcoming opportunities and promoting a sense of belonging in your organization. By embracing a diverse volunteer pool, organizations not only promote equity, but also benefit from a broader range of perspectives, experiences and skills that enhance problem-solving and community engagement. Organizations that utilize volunteers should consider aligning volunteer screening processes with DEI principles to help build trust, mutual respect and foster a more vibrant and effective volunteer community.

To align volunteer screening processes with DEI principles, organizations should first understand how they define DEI and ensure that their screening practices reflect their organizational values and commitments to DEI. For example, Michigan State University’s College Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) defines DEI as the following:

“Diversity includes characteristics of race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, migratory status, disability/abilities, political affiliation, veteran status and socioeconomic background. It also includes differences in backgrounds, ideas, thought, values and beliefs.  Embracing differences make us better learners, teachers, leaders, scholars, researchers, extension educators, employees and students. This is operationalized by embedding equity in all of our structures and practices.

Equity requires providing justice, fairness and access to opportunities and resources for all members of the campus community. In creating and sustaining a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic, we are nurturing a success-oriented, cooperative and caring college where we attract and retain people and partners who feel comfortable contributing their unique wisdom, perspectives and experiences.

To be an Inclusive college is to respect everyone, value differences, acknowledge the impact of differences and to capitalize on those differences by drawing on the intellectual strength that produces innovative solutions from the synergy of our people. Our aim is to foster a culture where every member of CANR feels valued, supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals with an uncommon will.”

After you consider your organization’s definitions of DEI, consider the broader values of your organization. Michigan State University Extension includes values such as ensuring programming is delivered to diverse audiences, ensuring teams are prepared with skills and resources to contribute toward a welcoming and inclusive culture, valuing diverse perspectives, and a commitment to continuous learning. How does each step of your organization’s volunteer screening practices align with the values of your organization? Consider the following:

• Do your volunteer recruitment efforts reach diverse audiences?
• Does your application process use inclusive language? Are application formats accessible?
• What are your organization’s background check requirements? What process do you use for reviewing results?
• Do any reference check practices account for cultural differences and varied relationships?
• Do your interviewing practices include ways to evaluate and mitigate unconscious bias?
• How are volunteers trained and informed about your organization’s values and culture?

This is the first article in a planned series. Follow along over this series as we explore each of these questions about how to align DEI values with your volunteer screening processes. For additional information about volunteer screening practices, please view the following articles: “The importance of volunteer screening and training,” “Screening mentors, you may have to say no,” and “From interest to reality: Transition volunteers smoothly.” For more information about volunteering with MSU Extension, contact your local MSU Extension office.