ICMT

Physics graduate programs across the United States continue to face persistent challenges related to student retention and diversity, particularly for individuals from historically excluded groups. While many departments have attempted to address these concerns through localized interventions, recent research and practice highlight the need for broader, systems-level approaches to change. Change theories emphasizing organizational and cultural transformation offer a promising framework for shifting attention from isolated program components toward the structures, norms, and practices that shape graduate student experiences. In this talk, I will introduce the Inclusive Graduate Programs (IGP) Project, a multi-institution initiative designed to support physics departments in creating and sustaining more inclusive, welcoming, and supportive graduate environments. Through partnerships with twelve research-intensive physics graduate programs, the IGP Project engages faculty, staff, and graduate students in a process of examining departmental culture and identifying barriers that contribute to inequitable outcomes. In this talk, I will share key findings from the IGP Project, focusing on departmental profiles, surveys, and interviews with students, and faculty interviews. I will conclude by outlining a developing research agenda focused on how departments can anticipate and respond to emerging challenges in higher education and the evolving STEM workforce, while continuing to advance equity, inclusion, and student success.