College of Environment and Design DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EXCELLENCE PLAN

November 2022

CED Working Vision of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As the UGA College of Environment and Design, we commit to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our environmental curation and community-building. Together, we strive to create a nurturing, supportive environment for all.

The Premise of the CED DEI Plan

Moving beyond simple efforts to promote individual commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the intent of the CED DEI Plan is to promote a diverse and inclusive community, leading to a CED culture of diversity and inclusion, enhanced by a spirit of openness in communication, transparency in decision-making processes, and voluntary engagement from each member of the community to care. By creating a more diverse and inclusive culture and community, collectively, we will better fulfill our mission of learning, discovery, and service. The intent is for this plan to be a living document, meaning content should be added and removed as the CED community learns more as it interacts on a variety of discussions around inclusion. A curated collection of definitions is included as an appendix. Additional information on and insights into the plan’s development, including the results of CED DEI Committee Survey on University D & I Priority Areas, is available as “Working Document – CED DEI Plan” on the CED Intranet.

Participants in the Development of the CED DEI Plan

CED DEI Plan Committee (February – June 2022)

Martha DeHart, EdD

Cari Goetcheus (voluntary co-chair)

Sunkyung Lee, PhD

Jennifer Lewis (voluntary co-chair)

Eric A. MacDonald, PhD

LaToya Norman

Stephen Ramos, DDes

Rosanna Rivero, PhD

Umit Yilmaz, PhD

We also acknowledge and appreciate the many faculty, staff, and students of the CED community who provided comments during this endeavor. It is our sincere hope that this open dialogue continues beyond this plan development.

UGA Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Goals

Building an Inclusive Living/Learning Environment that Supports Access and Success for Diverse Students

1. Increase enrollment of underrepresented and underserved students at undergraduate and graduate levels
2. Increase need-based student scholarships for undergraduate and graduate education
3. Expand resources to promote inclusive learning environments
4. Expand mentorship for underrepresented and underserved students

Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Workforce to Advance Our Mission in the 21st Century

1. Increase the number of underrepresented and underserved faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate assistants, and student workers
2. Expand community-building programs and activities for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and postdoctoral fellows, with a particular focus on underrepresented and underserved populations
3. Expand support and recognition for faculty and staff diversity and inclusion efforts

Expanding Partnerships and Outreach to Strengthen Diverse Communities

1. Increase institutional visibility in the educational pipeline of underserved communities
2. Build awareness of partnerships and outreach with diverse communities
3. Expand experiential learning opportunities for students in rural Georgia and other underserved areas
4. Improve and expand communications with community partners regarding the university’s diversity and inclusive excellence commitment

View the full CED Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Plan

Unit Name:

College of Environment and Design

Point of Contact for Plan Feedback:

Stephen J Ramos, CED DEI Committee Chair

sramos@uga.edu