Equity, Inclusion and Diversity
Equity, diversity and inclusion. These are more than just three words expressing commitment.
They are integral to our experiences and actions within the College of Humanities and Sciences. Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion promotes experiences and fuels behaviors that support a welcoming and affirming environment for students, staff and faculty. Whether diversity is based on perspectives, life experiences, cultural backgrounds, social identities and other unique expressions, it makes for a better place to work, to teach and learn, to conduct research and to engage with our local community.
Equity is also expressed in our commitment to and mutually respectful engagement with our local community that has historically faced social inequities in education, health, employment and housing.
We are especially committed to increasing equity for underrepresented minority groups and other protected identities that have historically experienced inequity and lack of representation in higher education.
- Appointment of the inaugural interim associate dean of diversity and community engagement
- Development of faculty and staff EID professional development guidelines
- Appointment of CHS Equity and Diversity Strategic Goals Ad Hoc Committee:
- Charlene Crawley, IDEC representative and Chemistry
- R. Lee Franco, Kinesiology and Health Sciences
- Lucy Hudson, Psychology
- Bernard Moitt, History
- Anita Nadal, World Studies
- Fernando Tenjo, Biology
- Levi Walters, Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies
- Increase in number of diversity and inclusion syllabi statements
- Increase in number of equity, inclusion and diversity committees in CHS departments
- IDEC's establishment of the CHS Diversity and Inclusion Awards to honor individuals or groups of VCU administrators, faculty, staff or students who exemplify the importance and commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity
- IDEC's dialogue series that covered such topics as demystifying disabilities, being black at VCU, stress and women’s leadership
- Increased outreach to local community organizations and schools
- New course offering: Race and Racism in America (CSIJ 200) taught by Mignonne Guy, Ph.D., and Amy Rector, Ph.D.
- New web pages on CHS's three main web properties focused on equity, inclusion and diversity
- Speaker events focused on race and racism
- Integration of EID focus within research and teaching initiatives (e.g., Student Success Plan) in College
- Complete equity, inclusion and diversity strategic goals
- Include equity, inclusion and diversity statements on all course syllabi
- Develop guidelines that account for equitable rewards for service
- Increase faculty participation in inclusive pedagogy, including decolonization of curriculum
- Implement inclusive hiring practices to increase the number of underrepresented minority staff and faculty
- Provide increased opportunities for involvement and engagement of CHS staff and faculty to help strengthen social equity in the community
- Incorporate assessments of faculty (e.g., annual review, promotion and tenure) to account for inclusion and diversity in teaching, service and research
- Increase student input in equity, inclusion and diversity and community-engaged activities within the College
IDEC
The College of Humanities and Sciences Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee (IDEC) highlights, coordinates, promotes and institutes efforts across all CHS units that foster respect, greater understanding, engagement and inclusion of all its members.
Visit the IDEC web page for more information.
Meet Dr. Belgrave
Faye Belgrave, Ph.D., is the interim associate dean for equity and community partnerships for the College of Humanities and Sciences.
Key Concepts
We invite you to join us in showing your commitment by practicing these values.
Equity
Equity is the process of ensuring that procedures and programs are impartial and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual. It ensures everyone has access to the same opportunities and recognizes we don't all start from the same place because some groups have more advantages and others face more barriers. Equity corrects for this imbalance.
Inclusion
The concept and practices of inclusion are about providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might be otherwise excluded or marginalized. It involves treating all individuals with fairness and respect. Inclusion involves power-sharing and empowerment, which is honoring and respecting the voices, talents, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of living of everyone.
Diversity
Diversity refers to practices that involve understanding and appreciating the qualities and experiences of those who differ from us. Diversity recognizes that systematic discrimination creates and maintains privileges for some and disadvantages for others. It, therefore, has as its focus different people working together to eradicate discrimination and social injustice. Diversity includes but is not limited to culture, race/ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, immigrant status and socioeconomic class.
Units with Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committees
Contacts: Derek Posser, Ph.D., and Wenheng Zhang, Ph.D.
Contact: Charlene Crawley, Ph.D.
Contacts: Shermaine Jones and Shelli Fowler
Contact: Jo Murphy
GSWS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The entire department is invested in equity, inclusion and diversity as part of its central mission. Several individuals serve as contacts:
- Eli Coston, Ph.D.
- madison moore, Ph.D.
- Matilde Moros, Ph.D.
- Francesca Lyn, Ph.D. (alternate)
History statement on diversity and inclusion
Contact: Kathryn Shively, Ph.D.
Contact: Marilyn Bishop, Ph.D.
Contact: Alexandra Reckendorf, Ph.D.
Resources
Check out Dr. Belgrave's curated list of resources from academic and popular media to help CHS faculty and staff incorporate equity, inclusion and diversity into their professions and workplaces.
- Call Me By My Name: VCU makes its commitment to inclusion real by recognizing that individuals have the right to use names other than their legal name, to identify with the gender they know themselves to be and to utilize the pronouns that best fit them
- College of Humanities and Sciences Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee: Highlights, coordinates, promotes and institutes efforts across all units within the College that foster respect, greater understanding, engagement and inclusion of all its members
- Guide to pronoun best practices
- VCU Center for Learning and Teaching Success and Faculty Success: Workshops for faculty on inclusion, diversity, equity and social justice
- VCU Climate Report: A diversity and inclusion campus rating system that provides diversity, inclusion and engagement scores for each major unit on campus
- VCU Division for Inclusive Excellence: Leads the university’s efforts to strengthen our core mission and culture of inclusion and diversity
- VCU Iexcel Education: A course and program compendium that is invested in cultivating a university environment that is empowering, fair and supportive for all
- VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs: Promotes an appreciation of diversity through events, forums, scholarships and more
- VCU Office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity: Provides accommodations to eligible students with disabilities
- VCU Office of the Ombudsperson: An independent dispute resolution practitioner for faculty, staff and students
- VCU policy on preventing and responding to discrimination
- VCU Safe Zone: Workshops to reduce homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and heterosexism at VCU
- Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities: A partnership which facilitates programming and workshops to achieve success through inclusion
Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Highlights
Equity and inclusion: our core valuesOur diversity makes us stronger as a living and learning community, and we strive to create a College that provides meaningful opportunities for all people and that celebrates diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.