Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity is important to us here at the VCU School of Education. We appreciate the unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that each of our faculty, staff and students bring to the table, and recognize how much we all can learn from one another. That's why we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone, and why we teach our students to do the same in their own classrooms.

Examples of our commitment to diversity include our recent "Race and Education, K-16 and Beyond: Past, Present and Future Possibilities" event, which encouraged discourse — both reflective and forward-thinking — among our students, faculty, staff and the community on the role race and ethnicity play in schools and in classrooms.

To continue these important conversations, we've also created "Understanding and Impacting Poverty," a series of special sessions where Dr. Daire, faculty, staff and students can discuss relevant issues of diversity and inequality and their impact on education and society.

Each fall we hold a “Race and Ethnicity Teach-In” kick-off event proceeding our week-long in-classroom initiative where our faculty explore issues of race, social justice and equity in the context of their courses' regular curriculum.
 

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee's Mission

The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is to raise awareness and facilitate discussion within the School of Education and wider community surrounding issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. The committee’s work encompasses many areas and issues related to diversity. The committee is comprised of faculty and staff from each department in the School of Education and at least one student. The associate dean for academic affairs and graduate studies serves as the ex-officio member.

Diversity at VCU

Diversity is far from just a School of Education initiative. In fact, it's one of the primary missions of VCU. In 2012, the university established its Division for Inclusive Excellence, an on-campus unit solely dedicated to maintaining a culturally-diverse environment at VCU.

Likewise, the university's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs organizes cultural programs, discussion groups, student organizations and more to help students from other cultures feel at home at VCU. Previous OMSA initiatives include a Hispanic Heritage Month and an LGBTQ discussion group.

Among the most diverse and vibrant campuses in the U.S., VCU received the first-ever Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.