Intercultural Development Inventory
UW Oshkosh and the UW System have a commitment to becoming a diverse and inclusive community. UW Oshkosh has demonstrated its willingness to engage in this effort through Diversity 2008, the Inclusivity Initiative, Equity Scorecard, Liberal Arts Education Reform Team and The Campus Climate Study. Significant resources have been dedicated to these initiatives to enhance the living and learning climate for all members of our community.
These efforts could be strengthened by employing the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) and increasing our cognitive complicity, knowledge, skills, and awareness in these areas. The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity was created by Dr. Milton Bennett (1986, 1993). It is a framework used to explain the reactions of people to cultural difference. The underlying assumption of the model is that as one’s experience of cultural difference becomes more complex and sophisticated, one’s competence and intercultural relations increases.
The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) was formulated by Dr. Mitchell Hammer (1998) in cooperation with Dr. Milton Bennett using on the DMIS. The IDI serves as an opportunity to explore and develop a shared language and act as a compass for receiving feedback and addressing campus concerns. In addition, this tool provides a shared understanding and knowledgebase. We can use it to assess where we are as a campus as well as a compass to guide us to the next developmental stage.
The Counseling Center and EAP offer Intercultural Sensitivity Development Consultation for students and employees of the University community. Shelly Rutz, MSW, LCSW; Elena Petrova, Ph.D.; Hong Ying Chen, Ph. and Kim Charniak, MSW, LCSW have been trained and certified to administer and interpret the Intercultural Development Inventory as a result of being awarded faculty development grant funding. Please contact the Counseling Center if you would like more information about the IDI.