University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center In 1969, the African American Cultural Center was created with the two-fold purpose of assisting the University in providing a safe and welcoming environment for African American students and serving as a resource to the campus at-large regarding African American contributions and issues. Asian American Cultural Center The Asian American Cultural Center promotes cross-cultural understanding of Asian American and Asian international experiences, and provides educational and cultural support for Asians and Asian Americans in our university community. La Casa Cultural Latina The mission of La Casa Cultural Latina is to promote a welcoming and dynamic atmosphere through the development of educational, cultural, socio-political, and social programs that lead to greater recruitment, retention, advancement, and empowerment of Latina/o students. La Casa engages current and future leaders through mentorship, civic engagement, and the promotion of social advocacy. Native American House The Native American House serves as a support and resource center for all American Indian and Alaskan Native students and their families by providing programs throughout the year that allow students the opportunity to enrich their cultural and academic experiences at the University of Illinois. Women’s Resource Center The Women's Resources Center as a part of Student Affairs is responsible for improving the campus climate for women and developing and implementing programs that address women's issues and gender-related concerns. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center as a part of the Office of Student Affairs serves as an integral part of the University community, dedicated to intellectual and personal development of the individual. Its mission is to foster an environment that is open, safe and inclusive for people of all sexualities and gender identities. Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services The mission of the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services is to ensure that qualified students with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the programs, services and activities of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign through the identification and enactment of reasonable modifications to institutional policies and procedures; the provision of effective auxiliary aids and services; the establishment of innovative educational services; and the pursuit of interdisciplinary disability research. Diversity and Social Justice Education I-Connect Diversity & Inclusion workshop is an experiential training designed to help incoming students embrace differences and recognize shared experiences in order to build a welcoming and engaged campus community. Facilitated by fellow students, I-Connect uses collaborative exercises and engaging discussion to build participants’ communication skills and their ability to collaborate, learn, and work in diverse environments. Inclusion and Intercultural Relations The Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR) seeks to improve campus climate by providing transformative learning experiences to the Illinois community that result in an appreciation for diversity and cross cultural engagement. OIIR contributes to the academic mission of the University by providing students educational opportunities about the various dimensions of diversity and intersections of identities. Cultural Programming Fee The purpose of the Student Cultural Programming Fee (SCPF) is to provide direction and allocation of resources for culture-specific programming for African American, Asian American, Latina/o, Native American, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and women’s programs and activities. The goal is to advance further cultural awareness, encourage diversity, educate the University of Illinois community as a whole, and provide a forum for the development, exploration, and improvement of cultural programs. iUnite I-Unite draws together over 30 events for all members of the University community to embrace the value of differences in individuals and communities, while exploring diversity and inclusion locally and globally. This campus-wide event is an exciting opportunity for the campus to learn about and celebrate the unique cultures and contributions of faculty, staff, and students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Lunchtime Discussion Series The Asian American Cultural Center, Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, La Casa Cultural Latina, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resources Center, Native American House and the Women's Resource Center collaborate to host a series of lunchtime forum that provide audience members and participants with introductions to the cultures, histories, and societal issues that the diverse communities of our campus face. We welcome you to our centers and encourage you to connect with us. Latino Family Visit Day Latina/o Family Visit Day is an all-day event held annually in the fall for families of first-year and transfer Latina/o students. LFVD provides families with the opportunity to learn about the college experience. Activities such as the resource fair, parent panels, alumni panels, and faculty presentations emphasize the benefits of college while providing an opportunity for parents to discuss the transitions families face when their children leave for college. Little siblings participate in age-appropriate activities to give them a glimpse of what a college campus has to offer. Campus Uncensored The University is deeply committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, just, and respectful learning community. The University of Illinois welcomes and encourages all of its students, faculty, and staff to embrace the marketplace of ideas as part of the educational experience. Campus Uncensored program is an event that highlights the vital roles and meanings of the First Amendment and Academic Freedom at the University of Illinois. This program of activities has three goals: • To broaden our understanding of the First Amendment. This includes both historical and contemporary analyses, and conversations about your rights to free speech and other freedoms granted by this amendment; • To enhance awareness of the responsibilities that accompany these constitutional rights and freedoms, and; • To encourage students, faculty, and staff to use this understanding and awareness for personal and collective application on the campus and in everyday life.

The Chancellor's takes a very active role in ensuring diversity policies and programs are in place and are implemented, which includes the Diversity Administrative Coordinating Team (DACT) that encourages intentional efforts across the Offices of the Chancellor, Student Affairs and Provost to implement and evaluate diversity initiatives. In addition, The Illinois EDGE–Faculty Diversity and Cultural Understanding Council and the Illinois EDGE (Enhancing Diversity, Guiding Excellence) and the Chancellor's and Provost's Faculty Advisory Council on Diversity and Cultural Understanding focus on the identification and implementation of strategies to institutionalize the values and goals related to diversity at Illinois. Chancellor’s Standing Diversity Committees Chancellor’s Committee on Access and Accommodations The committee is responsible for raising awareness and improving accessibility on campus for people with disabilities. In addition, the committee is responsible for providing recommendations regarding accessibility, recruitment, retention and promotion (when applicable) of students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. Committee on Race and Ethnicity The primary goal of the Committee on Race and Ethnicity is to advise the Chancellor and Provost on issues of race and ethnicity including climate, and the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students. Gender Equity Council The purpose of the Gender Equity Council is to guide the implementation of initiatives and strategies that improve the representation of women at Illinois. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Concerns The committee is responsible for promoting guidance on addressing the needs of faculty, staff and students of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to help ensure a campus environment that allows full participation by all members of the campus community in the University’s education, research and public engagement mission. Faculty Women of Color in the Academy The Faculty Women of Color in the Academy Conference brings together women from all over the country to engage in conversations related to academia. Conference topics include Research on Women of Color in the Academy; Women of Color and Promotions: Strategies for Success; Interdisciplinary Medicine and Health; and the Economics of Being a Faculty Woman of Color: Being Prepared and Planning Ahead.

Asian American Faculty-Staff Association (AAFSA) Composed of Asian and Pacific Islanders, and other interested faculty and academic professionals, AAPFSA members join together to acknowledge and celebrate the commonalities in the often-diverse Asian cultures. Black Faculty and Academic Professional Alliance (BFAPA) To serve as advocates for equitable and accessible opportunities, programs, services, and governance for Black faculty, academic professionals, and students through connections with administration, internal and external partnerships, social networks, and by leveraging both financial and human capital resources to effect change. Latino Faculty and Academic Professional Alliance (LFAPA) The LFAPA is an organization for faculty and academic professionals devoted to representing, addressing the needs, and raising awareness about issues that pertain to Latinas/os.

https://publish.illinois.edu/bfap-alliance/ http://publish.illinois.edu/educationadvising/2013/03/13/inclusive-illinois-diversity-roundtable/ http://oc.illinois.edu/committees/index.html