Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
All communities, organizations, and groups thrive when they are welcoming and supportive.
They also flourish from a range of experiences and points of view that reflect society as a whole. As such, the University of Charleston benefits from the diversity of its people, fostering equity and inclusion, and advancing a genuine sense of belonging among its students, faculty, and staff.
Consistent with our core values of student focus, integrity, and quality, the University of Charleston embraces and supports efforts to attract diverse students, employees, and board members and to develop processes, programs, events and activities that facilitate equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ensuring that all members of our university community have opportunities for personal growth and professional success enables us to live our values, fulfill our mission, and achieve our goals.
At UC we define the key concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) as follows:
Diversity reflects the composition of our university community.
Equity affords all university community members with the opportunities and resources they need to be successful.
Inclusion is embracing, celebrating, and learning from our university community’s diversity.
Belonging makes everyone feel welcomed, accepted, valued, and safe.
With regard to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) the University aspires and strives to do the following:
Be a Diverse Community in Composition and Thought
- Attract and welcome students that possess diverse backgrounds and orientations
- Recruit faculty and staff that reflect a diverse student composition and that embrace our definitions of and commitment to DEIB
Foster Equity and Inclusion
- Ensure that all members of the UC community have access to the resources they need to be successful
- Provide formal and informal development opportunities that help us understand, appreciate, and learn from our similarities and differences
- Acknowledge and promote our diversity internally and publicly
Enhance a Culture of Belonging
- Seek and act on community members’ feedback
- Engage in community-wide activities and programs that bring us together around our shared mission
- Commit to leading by example as well as by word
By embracing and integrating diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at UC, we bring out everyone’s best and work collaboratively to build a better future.