University Council on Antiracism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (UCADEI)

Mission

The office of Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI; pronounced Adé), re-envisioned from Diversity Engagement and Community Outreach (DECO), promotes an inclusive climate, and equitable structures, systems and policies at USF. The office works to ensure that the USF community values diversity in all its forms and intersections including race, ethnicity, age, sex, religion, disability/ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and nationality. ADEI fosters a sense of belonging and empowers campus constituents with a critical understanding of racism and oppression, and builds capacity to engage in self-reflection, humanizing dialogue, and action. The office of ADEI serves as a hub to foster collaboration across the college, schools, and divisions.

Overview

Advancing ADEI goals is shared responsibility that requires cross-functional learning and accountability across many stakeholders at USF. A key partner to the ADEI office is the UCADEI (previously University Council on Diversity and Inclusion or UCDI), which brings together faculty, staff, students, and community members to work with the office. 

UCADEI’s mandate has also been strengthened to build on the learning from its initial and transition phase of work between 2021-2022, and to align with the re-launch of, and renewed focus on ADEI. 

Mandate

UCADEI’s core purpose is to serve as an engine for change by galvanizing and amplifying attention to ADEI priorities across all constituents and areas of work at USF. Its core responsibilities are:

  • Learning and community building: Surface and share ADEI-related challenges for collective learning and resolution; amplify promising practices related to ongoing ADEI work on campus; and identify opportunities for collaboration
  • Action planning: Support the ADEI office as it partners with stakeholders across USF to develop a University-wide ADEI Action Plan, including providing input and recommendations on all aspects of ADEI implementation; championing ADEI Action Plan implementation across USF; sharing areas of challenge and progress; and leveraging influence to advance ADEI goals among members’ constituencies. 
  • Communication: Provide visible support for ADEI office initiatives and communicate ADEI-related efforts with their offices and/or campus constituencies, including partnering with other University Councils on an annual summit to highlight UCADEI’s work. 

Structure and Membership

UCADEI membership will comprise diverse representation by constituency; school / college / library; and social identities. The Council will have up to 25 members, with the following composition: 

  • Provost
  • Student Life
    • Staff
    • Student leadership
  • School of Education
  • School of Nursing and Health Professions
  • School of Management
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Law
  • Library
  • University ministry
  • Strategic Enrollment Management
  • Office of Marketing Communications
  • Community Representatives
  • Student Disability Services

Leadership: The Associate Vice Provost for ADEI will co-chair UCADEI with another member who is not from the ADEI office. 

Additional Roles: 

  • The co-chairs will design each meeting agenda
  • The co-chairs will facilitate each meeting, including summarizing and assigning follow up actions
  • Meetings will be staffed by (e.g., set up, documented) by the ADEI office.
  • Council members may be asked to serve on working groups or in a focused advisory role pertaining to specific issue areas that meet throughout the academic year.

Conventions

  • Student members serve a one-year term, all others two years.
  • The Council will meet over four regular meetings in a year for 1.5 hours each time (twice in fall and twice in spring).
  • The minutes are private and shared only with UCADEI members.
  • Each meeting will conclude with items to be communicated more broadly across campus, through UCADEI members and/or ADEI office newsletters.
  • The UCADEI co-chairs will provide a fall and spring summary report to the Provost on the progress of UCADEI regularly, to support accountability for progress on ADEI goals. 

Process for Constituting Membership for 2022-2023

Four to five members of the current UCADEI will stay on the Council to provide continuity to the new Council. In addition to diverse representation, the new Council seeks nominees who: 

  • Have an understanding of ADEI goals and their relevance for the University’s mission;
  • Demonstrate the potential to advance ADEI goals, including some of the following: 
    • A deep commitment to advancing ADEI
    • Past experience advancing ADEI goals,
    • A willingness to engage with difficult and sensitive discussions on ADEI
    • Trust and influence with a range of University stakeholders
  • Are willing and able to commit time to fulfilling the UCADEI’s mandate, including attending meetings and following up on next steps.

Those who wish to serve on the UCADEI for 2022-2023 should submit their self-nominations here. You can also nominate another person than yourself, if the nominee has confirmed their interest and availability to serve on UCADEI. 

The Provost’s office and current co-chairs of the UCADEI transition team who are able to continue their tenure through the summer will recommend a final shortlist of 25 members to the President. The new UCADEI will be appointed and announced by the start of Fall 2022.