The Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement Office of Diversity Education and Training was established in 1994 to support the University of Central Florida’s 4th strategic goal, “to become more inclusive and diverse.” We strive to make diversity and inclusion visible and critical elements that indelibly permeate the life and values of the UCF community. The office plays an important role in support of the UCF Collective Strategic Impact Plan.
We offer education, training and support services, facilitation of cross-campus collaboration, and enterprise-wide leadership to the campus and our community to build an inclusive culture for all students, faculty and staff. The ODET Workshop program engages thousands annually. The professional development programs engage under-represented faculty, staff and students: Leadership Empowerment Program, CREAR Futuros, and LEGACY. The Hispanic Initiatives effort leads the UCF to excel as a minority-serving institution.
Mission
The mission of the Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement Office of Diversity Education and Training is to collaborate with the University of Central Florida community to advocate for and educate about the university’s goal of becoming more diverse and inclusive.
Vision
Our vision is to position UCF as a center of excellence that is nationally recognized as a higher education model for our diversity and inclusion practices, policies, and culture.
Highlights
- Facilitates collaboration across the UCF campus and community through multiple committees and partnerships.
- Organizes campus-wide engagement events on a broad range of diversity, inclusion and equity topics, including the annual UCF Diversity Week celebrations and events.
- Facilitates over 400 workshops on more than 120 topics annually.
- Leads the UCF Hispanic Initiatives effort.
- Manages professional development and student development programs such as the Leadership Empowerment Program for members of the UCF faculty and staff; the LEGACY Leadership and Mentoring Program for students which focuses on scholarship, identity development, leadership, career development, and community service; CREAR Futuros mentoring program for Latinx students; SEED; and the UCF Summer Faculty Development Conference diversity track on curriculum transformation.
- Engages campus leadership through the president’s and provost’s councils and a multitude of committees.
To learn more about the Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement Office of Diversity Education and Training, take a look at this information that we shared at the 2018 Diversity Breakfast.
Initiatives
The Office of Diversity Education and Training leads the university’s effort to become more inclusive and diverse through a number of initiatives.
Snapshot Data
Campus Research Initiatives
COACHE
The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey is a tool used by institutions to gather faculty perceptions on their workplace experience. Beginning by highlighting the areas where we are doing well and where you feel the institution could improve, this survey helps guide efforts to increase faculty satisfaction and advance faculty-centric initiatives across the university.
Foundations of Excellence Transfer Initiative
FoE is a national self-study program, in partnership with the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, that promotes awareness of experiences unique to transfer students and bridges gaps between academic and student affairs support to achieve greater retention and graduation rates.
UCF Collective Strategic Impact Plan
While the Collective Impact Strategic Plan spans many areas across the university, we believe UCF will become the recognized leader among 21st-century universities for our transformational impact, which we will measure by these 5- and 20-year objectives:
- Lead large Florida metropolitan areas in percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment in five years, reaching the top quartile nationally by 2035
- Double national and international recognition of faculty and student excellence by 2021, and quadruple recognition by 2035
- Double research awards in five years and become a top 50 research university by 2035
- Generate $10 billion in economic, social and cultural impact, growing to $25 billion by 2035
- Attract $100 million in new funding from sources other than students, families and taxpayers, becoming 20 percent of total educational funding by 2035
Campus Wide-Culture and Climate Survey
In late February 2020, we launched the Campus Climate Survey, designed to help us build a more equitable and inclusive environment at UCF. This voluntary survey will guide efforts of university leadership, the Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement Office of Diversity Education and Training and our entire campus working to empower and elevate voices across our community.
ODET Committees
The Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement Office of Diversity Education and Training works to facilitate campus collaboration and partnerships through a number of committees. ODET seeks advice from its own Faculty Advisory Committee and works with student, faculty and staff associations to promote their efforts to engage and improve campus life.
Diversity and Inclusion Working Group (DIWG)
DIWG Mission: In support of the UCF’s goal of becoming more inclusive and diverse, the working group will seek to:
- improve cross-campus communication and collaboration;
- exchange supportive data and strategies for improving culture and recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students;
- discuss policy and procedure for campus diversity and inclusion efforts, training and events;
- cross-promote programs and events; and
- anticipate issues and opportunities to improve diversity and inclusion at UCF
Bias Incident Communications Group
This group meets to share information about bias incidents and support resources and processes at UCF. If you experience discrimination related to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, or disability, you can contact the following to find support:
- Office of Institutional Equity
- UCF Integrity Line
- UCF Police Department
- Just Knights Bias Grievance
- Ombuds Office
- UCF Cares (an umbrella of care-related programs and resources)
- Office of Diversity Education and Training
Community Engagement Council (CEC)
The UCF Diversity and Inclusion Community Engagement Council brings community leaders and activists to discussions regarding UCF’s inclusion efforts. The Council members share information about community needs, experience and projects and provide advice to UCF as diversity partners.
Awards and Recognitions
The Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement Office of Diversity Education and Training has been recognized for the work and dedication it has put into educating, promoting, and facilitating experiences and methodologies in support of UCF’s goal, To Become More Inclusive and Diverse. These are a few of the accolades we have received over the years:
2018
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
For the 3rd year running, UCF received the 2018 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — UCF will be featured, along with 95 other recipients, in the November 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
https://www.insightintodiversity.com/about-the-heed-award/
2017
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
The INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award, open to all colleges and universities across the U.S., measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.
2016
Outstanding Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Associate Member Institution
In recognition of excellence in support of HACU’s mission, University of Central Florida.
Insight into Diversity: National Diversity Champion.
Diversity Champions exemplify an unyielding commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout their campus communities, across academic programs, and at the highest administrative levels. Less than 15 colleges and universities across the nation have been selected for this honor. Known for visionary leadership, Diversity Champions are institutions that set the standard for thousands of other campus communities striving for diversity and inclusion. They develop successful strategies and programs, which then serve as models of excellence for other institutions. Diversity Champion schools exceed everyday expectations, often eclipsing their own goals.
Onyx Award for Diversity Excellence
In support of Orlando African Americans.
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award
ADDY AWARD
In collaboration with Three21 Creative Marketing for the UCF Rally for Respect Video
2015
Commitment to Diversity Award from Minority Access, Inc.:
For UCF’s work that emphasizes that diversity is essential – indispensable – to providing a good education to anyone who expects to live and work in the United States or anyplace where they will work with, buy from, sell to, serve or live with a diverse population.
2013
Institutional Excellence Award from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE)
Presented to the University of Central Florida, this award “recognizes institutions like the University of Central Florida who have shown demonstrable progress in promoting and sustaining innovative diversity efforts within their campus community.”
– Dr. Christine Stanley, chair of the association’s Inclusive Excellence Awards Committee
2012
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
Presented to the University of Central Florida in recognition of its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion for the year 2012.
Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
Presented by Insight Into Diversity
2011
Champion for Change.
Received from Seminole State College of Florida
2010
Beacon Award
Celebrating Workforce Diversity
2009
Google Award Grant
In support of our mission and goals
2000
Downtown Orlando Partnership, Vision Award
News & Updates