University Diversity Council Comes Together

Florida Tech has formed a University Diversity Council to champion Florida Tech’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts while embracing the challenge, as all institutions must, of examining the university climate, culture, practices and policies to ensure they are equitable and inclusive.

“With this new initiative, I am pleased to help bring together members of the campus community who are committed to ensuring our university is a place where all students, faculty and staff are welcomed and supported in a way that recognizes and celebrates the uniqueness of each individual,” said Marco Carvalho, executive vice president, provost and COO who established and chairs the University Diversity Council.

The Council is in alignment with and will support Florida Tech’s mission to provide high-quality education to a culturally diverse student body to prepare students for entering the global workforce, seeking higher-education opportunities and serving within their communities. It reflects one of the university’s core values, the development of global citizens. The university committed to supporting this core value in 2015 by choosing to implement the Cultural Competency Certificate program as the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for SACSCOC Accreditation.

The University Diversity Council includes representatives from the university’s four academic colleges, Evans Library, student body and administrative units. Among other duties, it will:

• promote increased representation, retention and advancement of underrepresented and historically marginalized groups among Florida Tech students, faculty, and staff;
• advance the prioritization of DEI initiatives in university planning processes;
• identify and recommend action items to ensure a diverse and inclusive university climate and culture;
• extend diversity, equity and inclusion awareness throughout the university community;
• promote, oversee and assess diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the university.

The University Diversity Council joins and enhances ongoing DEI efforts throughout the university, with groups including the Florida Tech Women’s Council, School of Psychology Diversity Committee, Cultural Competency, the Student Life DEI Committee and multiple student programs and organizations.

“Building an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture is essential to create and maintain a healthy and productive academic environment for our students, faculty and staff,” Carvalho said.

Members of the Florida Tech community who wish to learn more about the University Diversity Council may email provost@fit.edu for more information.