Office of Equity, Diversity and Community RelationsDear New Faculty Member,It is my pleasure to welcome you to ECU. The Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Relations (EDC) was recently established on our campus. Our office would like to serve as a resource for your support and success here. It is our belief that faculty lead the process of creating a learning environment that is inclusive of diversity via your curriculum, research, community-university partnerships and mentorship of students. Without you and your leadership we will not achieve our institution’s mission and its institutional and unit driven strategic goals. The Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Relations provides leadership to the university’s efforts to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. The office promotes equity in educational opportunity, programming and employment and promotes an environment of diversity, respect and inclusion for all members of the university community. The scope of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Relations encompasses institutional equity, diversity, multicultural and community/regional relations functions and involves education, intervention, compliance, consulting, programming, outreach and assessment. Administrators in this office monitor institutional practices in support of the principles of diversity and equity so that these guiding principles are applied and assessed institutionally on administrative, academic, budgetary and strategic fronts. Programs and services of the office are available to faculty, staff, students and community partners and support a sustained diverse and inclusive learning, living and working environment. ECU’s mission states that the University will serve as a national model for public service and regional transformation, by preparing our students to succeed in the global economy and multicultural society and by distinguishing ourselves by the ability to train and prepare leaders. As a component of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Relations, the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center’s mission is to conduct activities that parallel the university's mission of increasing cultural awareness and promoting cultural understanding. In addition to the infusion of diversity into academic courses, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Relations and the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, play a prominent role in developing the diversity and cultural competence skills of students through co-curricular activities and experiences. We view cultural competence as a set of skills that are imperative for effective leadership in today’s multicultural society and global economy. Our goal is to produce culturally competent ECU graduates. Please visit our website at www.ecu.edu/edc Sincerely, Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton Associate Provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Relations claytont@ecu.edu |
