Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
Strategic Plan
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
At UNCSA, we strive to create a safe environment, one that allows people from all walks of life to thrive. Doing so demands that we commit to an explicit and continual process of identifying and dismantling systems and practices of bias, exclusion and oppression. Education and art making can be transformational forces for change, and we are working so that change leads toward justice.
Access and Success
- Implement best practices for EDIB to increase recruitment and retention of historically underrepresented students, faculty and staff.
- Increase curricular and cocurricular career readiness opportunities and support for student-artists; in particular, those who have been historically underserved in higher education.
Capacity Building and Cultural Intelligence
- Recruit and hire a chief diversity officer and develop a campus infrastructure to effectively and collaboratively steward the campus’ EDIB efforts.
- Develop a standing governance committee structured to support and guide ongoing EDIB work across campus and work in partnership with the chief diversity officer.
- Expand the capacity of campus Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessibility Resources.
- Implement a recurring campus climate survey to better understand the lived experiences and needs of students and employees and to measure institutional progress toward EDIB goals.
- Expand professional development opportunities and resources for students and employees to build their capacity for demonstrating a commitment to EDIB.
- Create a culturally responsive curriculum, physical environment and campus experience that prioritizes diversity and facilitates students’ self-representation of their identities to advance learning.
Support and Advocacy
- Increase students’ and employees’ sense of belonging, personal safety and well-being.
- Create meaningful practices, policies and programming that help foster a safe and welcoming climate for the UNCSA and broader communities.
- Increase alumni engagement from historically underrepresented groups through consistent and meaningful support, collaboration and relationship building.
EDIB Committee Members
B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, mcneelycobhamb@uncsa.edu
Associate Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
Endalyn T. Outlaw, taylore@uncsa.edu
Dean of Dance
Lissy Garrison, garrisonl@uncsa.edu
Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Kevin Bitterman, bittermank@uncsa.edu
Executive Director of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts