Assessing Cultural Competence Using the IDI
One of the tools the EDI team uses to assess your department or unit’s cultural competency is the Intercultural Development Inventory. The IDI is a 50-item questionnaire available online that can be completed in 15–20 minutes.
The assessments are confidential and are used only as a baseline tool. The results are not shared with anyone other than the individual and the Qualified Administrator (QA). It is not part of any personnel file and will not be used as a performance management tool. The data is housed in a third-party database unrelated to the University.
The IDI consists of a continuum of five development models. Below is an infographic displaying the continuum.
The IDI Process
First, request a consultation on the IDI or a guided session for your leadership team by filling out our request form.
One of our Qualified Administrators (QA) will meet with you and your team to talk about why cultural competency is important and how it aligns with three core values or key initiatives you identify within your college or unit. After that discussion, the assessment will be issued by our staff to those determined to play a key role in executing on the initiative or setting the tone for the college or unit’s culture.
The results are then shared in aggregate by the QA with the group, and following, the QA will schedule individual debriefs with each person who has taken the assessment to review their results and discuss a personalized Independent Development Plan (IDP) which serves as a guide to increase one’s cultural competence over the next 18-24 months.
A re-assessment will be done to evaluate progress after the 18-24 month period.
IDI Follow-Up & Support
After your IDI is complete, if your team is looking for more ways to engage with this work, you are encouraged to consider the Discussion Toolkits. These are designed as experiential learning opportunities with guided discussions for your leadership team with our EDI staff.
We can also partner with your leadership team to consult on a topic and help develop EDI strategies for your unit. Fill out this quick form to let us know how we can help you and we will reach out for additional information as needed.