In a move that sets a new standard for transparency and accountability in higher education civil rights, Michigan State University has unveiled its first-ever Office for Civil Rights Data Dashboard. This public-facing tool provides customizable graphics through which users can gain insights into how the university responds to reports of discrimination and harassment, provides accessibility services and initiatives, and measures participation in prevention and education efforts.
Developed by the Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance, or OCR, the dashboard provides an innovative solution that, along with other initiatives over time, responds to years of sustained calls from students, faculty, staff and external partners for greater visibility into MSU’s civil rights processes and initiatives. OCR launched the dashboard in concert with its 2023-25 Biennial Report, which offers deeper context on the office’s progress and strategic priorities.
“This dashboard is a powerful advancement in how we share civil rights data,” said Laura Rugless, vice president and Title IX and Title VI coordinator at MSU. “My hope is that it conveys the openness and accountability with which our team approaches the important work we are entrusted with.”
The dashboard is organized into three programmatic branches — Investigation, Support and Resolution, or ISR; Office of the ADA Coordinator; and Prevention, Outreach and Education, or POE — with plans to expand further over time. Users can explore data on case outcomes, resolution timelines, accessibility initiatives and prevention programming participation across student and employee groups.
Highlights from the biennial report and dashboard include:
“OCR’s dashboard exemplifies the kind of next-generation operations and organization that we set out to achieve through the MSU 2030 strategic plan,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “I’m proud of the leadership and innovation of our team as they seek to make us a leader in higher education civil rights and work to continuously strengthen trust and engagement across our campus and beyond.”
OCR is one of the largest higher education civil rights offices in the nation. MSU’s investments in OCR means the university is uniquely positioned to lead the development of this tool.
The dashboard and biennial report are available at civilrights.msu.edu. OCR will update and build upon the dashboard regularly and publish biennial reports in odd-numbered years, with brief infographic updates in even-numbered years.
“This is a noteworthy moment because it reflects what we can accomplish together to advance civil rights,” Rugless added.