University of Virginia
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The University of Virginia (UVA) has a Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) that is deeply committed to enhancing the wellbeing, safety and success of all UVA faculty, students, staff, alumni, visitors and our neighbors. It achieves its mission through the coordinated and collective impact of the Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR); the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI); and the Center for Community Partnerships.

ODEI coordinates UVA's Diversity Council (https://dei.virginia.edu/diversity-council), related sub-committees, and employee resource groups. The Diversity Council's objectives are:
1) To provide 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 UVA a more diverse and welcoming environment at all levels; 2) 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 3) 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 Diversity Council currently has two subcommittees: the LGBTQ Subcommittee (https://dei.virginia.edu/lgbtq-committee) and the Disability Advocacy Subcommittee (https://dei.virginia.edu/disability-advocacy-committee).

EOCR's mission is to ensure equal opportunity and to protect the civil rights of all University community members through proactive outreach, education, and effective response and resolution. EOCR supports a living, learning, and work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and where all members of the University community feel welcomed and valued. EOCR responsibilities include issues related to ADA compliance, Title IX and sexual misconduct, employment equity, and discrimination and harassment.

The Center for Community Partnerships supports the University's commitment to intentionally apply it's place-based economic power and human capital in partnership with community to mutually benefit the long-term well-being of both. As an anchor institution, aspiring to be a good neighbor, UVA's work in this area is evolving as it seeks to establish more partnerships and reciprocally engage with our neighbors in response to the needs and opportunities that are identified. The University of Virginia now has a presence in downtown Charlottesville focused on connecting the University’s community-focused initiatives and strengthening its relationship with the broader community. The Center for Community Partnerships serves as both a front door to the University for community members and a collaborative space for UVA’s existing community efforts. The center is anchored by UVA’s Equity Center, and staffed by members of the University’s offices for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Academic Outreach; and Community Partnerships at UVA Health.
You can learn more about several of our key partnerships here: https://dei.virginia.edu/community-partnerships

The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) 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.

For example, ODEI leads the university's efforts to implement the nationally recognized Inclusive Excellence framework to develop strategic DEI plans within each school and unit. The Inclusive Excellence work has extended beyond the university -- community organizations in Central Virginia are adopting the framework. The ODEI hired its first Director of Diversity Education who leads trainings on topics such as microaggressions, equity, difficult dialogues, implicit bias, and more, both on campus and in the community. In addition, the Director of Diversity Education consults with departments, units, and community organizations on programming and training. See a list of current offerings here: https://dei.virginia.edu/learning-programs

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR) 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. EOCR distributes 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 conducts workshops and seminars on these issues and other relevant subjects. The course Preventing and Addressing Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation is required of University of Virginia managers and available to all employees.

UVA Human Resources offers trainings in multicultural fluency, crucial conversations, and related topics 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. In response to increased demand for diversity-related trainings and/or facilitated conversations, HR and ODEI have developed a searchable database for members of the UVA community to identify and consult with diversity, equity, and inclusion educators and facilitators on campus.