University of Virginia
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The University of Virginia's Diversity Council provides a forum where representatives from various segments of the University community can come together to discuss and consider forward-looking, proactive strategies, methods, and approaches that will help to make U.Va a more diverse and welcoming environment at all levels; To create a setting in which representatives can present diversity-related issues and considerations that are occurring either within their own administrative unit, or within other areas that they have either knowledge about or interest in; and To review information and materials that are intended to enhance and celebrate diversity that are being used or discussed in other higher education institutions, or in other settings, to determine whether they might have any applicability to U.Va.

The Office for Diversity and Equity (ODE) provides leadership, information, consultation, coordination, and assistance to the various units and constituencies within the University of Virginia in an effort to embrace diversity and equity as pillars of excellence, synergize actions at all levels of the institution, and cultivate inclusiveness and mutual respect throughout the community.The Center for Leadership Excellence, a part of University Human Resources, offers multicultural diversity education for faculty and staff. Courses are offered both as open enrollment classes and, in some cases, are embedded in group learning programs such as Essential WorkSkills. Additionally, the Center offers Respect@UVa training – a program that describes and discusses what respectful and disrespectful behavior looks at the university and what employees can do if they are the target of, accused of, or are a witness to disrespectful behavior. Finally, the course Preventing and Addressing Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation is required of University of Virginia managers and available to all employees. The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP) is responsible for providing educational training programs to assist members of the University community in understanding discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and how to address behaviors that violate University policy. Specifically, EOP will distribute copies of the "Preventing and Addressing Discrimination and Harassment" and "Preventing and Addressing Retaliation" policies to all schools, departments and programs at the University, and will conduct workshops and seminars on these issues and other relevant subjects. The Orientation Office offers cultural compentency training for staff and student orientation leaders. Incoming students experience an overview in the Grounds for Discussion and have opportunity to choose to participate in the First-Year Seminar in which discussions about biases/stereotyping are held with near-peer mentors. A student-run program called Sustained Dialogue engages students in difficult conversations about differences.