51ÊÓƵ-Dearborn named an Opportunity University
New Carnegie designation recognizes schools with high access and post-grad earnings....
- Guidelines to Promote Open and Respectful Discussion
- Discussion and Deliberation Support
The Office of Holistic Excellence promotes scholarly, creative and practical solutions related to diversity of knowledge and thought, both of which are linked with open-mindedness. We also seek to build intellectual empathy, to enable us to engage with one another more positively and effectively across campus and beyond. Our office works with faculty, staff and students to create learning spaces and working environments where disagreement may coexist with respect, where rigorous inquiry and belonging operate in tandem, and where sharing our experiences, perspectives and stories with one another serves as a catalyst for deeper understanding.
Our Mission
- Build an adaptive and holistic mindset among faculty, staff and students
- Value the exploration of important topics that may be challenging or uncomfortable
- Facilitate a robust and inclusive diversity of thought and perspective on campus
- Capture views that may be marginalized, missing or unheard
- Increase awareness of our human tendency toward bias and misconception
- Nurture and enrich an inclusive and equitable campus community
Read more about OHE's work in .
Partner with us
OHE partners across campus on grant proposals, grant-funded projects and other programming related to our mission. Interested in learning more? Contact us.
Learn more about our partner projects:
This project focuses on integrating different ways of knowing and storytelling into Honors Courses.
Partners: CASL and CEHHS faculty
Funding: U-M Diversity Grant
A one-day conference planned for Winter 2026 to promote diversity of thought and intellectual empathy as underlying components of democratic deliberation and decision-making. The event’s goal is to provide students with opportunities to listen to diverse perspectives and engage with one another in a civil, respectful, and cooperative manner.
Partners: Political Science and Communication faculty
Funding: U-M Democratic Deliberation Grant
This year’s book selection is by Robin Wall Kimmerer. OHE is partnering with several departments/units on programming related to themes in the book, including developing and installing a Native Lands Acknowledgement and integrating Native Ways of Knowing into some Honors courses
Partners: History and Anthropology faculty, the Environmental Interpretive Center
OHE is collaborating with the EIC and History faculty to commission Anishinaabe art work and
to support the planting of Indigenous gardens in and around the EIC. The art and gardens will be used to educate the thousands of K-12 students, community, and campus members who visit the EIC annually about the Indigenous history and culture linked with the land upon which our campus sits.
Partners: History and Environmental Science Faculty
Discussion and Deliberation Resources
Diversity of thought goes beyond demographic diversity. It includes different perspectives, different worldviews and even different disciplinary approaches.
OHE co-director
