Community Engagement and Inclusivity

Community engagement and achieving health equity for populations that experience health disparities are integrally connected. The School of Nursing believes that practice, research, teaching, and service are enhanced when nurses partner with others toward improving health, especially when addressing the needs of those individuals, groups, communities, and populations who experience disadvantage in health status and health outcomes.

Purpose Statement

The Office of Community Engagement was established in Fall 2010 to assist UofL School of Nursing faculty, staff and students in the following ways:

•  Support teaching/learning, practice, research and service activities focused on ULSON collaboration with populations that experience health and healthcare disparities
• Support teaching/learning, practice, research and service activities focused on ULSON collaboration with community individuals, groups and organizations
• Provide information & data to the ULSON community regarding community engagement and health disparities
• Support recognition of ULSON faculty, staff, and student activities focused on health disparities and community engagement

In addition to the stated purpose, the Community Engagement efforts will focus on the following through the collaboration of the SON Community Engagement Committee, the faculty and the Associate Dean:

• Evaluate the SON community engagement plan annually.
• Strategically plan the SON's participation in community events held by the University's community partners.
• Oversee communication to faculty regarding community engagement opportunities.

The School of Nursing supports the University of Louisville's priority on Community Engagement and Community Partnership as key elements of a premier metropolitan university. As part of a Carnegie Foundation designated university (Community Engagement and Community Outreach), the School of Nursing has been active in incorporating a focus on community partnership in our undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, The ULSON also reflects the Future of Nursing: Leading Change emphasis through its activities focused on community partnership, empowerment and health equity.

Community Engagement Links

• Community Engagement Plan Progress Report
• Small Grant Funding (Information and application) [DOCX]
• Community Engagement Award
• Faculty and student resources (literature, organizations)
• School of Nursing Projects
• University of Louisville Community Engagement

Our School of Nursing community of scholars fosters inclusivity through educational opportunities, raising awareness and providing strategies to bring to life the vision of inclusion excellence both within nursing and in our communities. Through these efforts we can address health and social inequity, and promote health equity and social justice in nursing.

Diversity and inclusion efforts will focus on the following through the collaboration of the SON Diversity Committee, the faculty and the Associate Dean:

• Identify areas of educational programming that address issues of diversity.
• Advocate for faculty, staff, and students in areas related to diversity and inclusion.
• Advise the Dean on recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
• Recommend resources and services to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students’ voices are heard and are part of an inclusive academic environment.
• Advise the administration regarding the collection, review, and maintenance of SON diversity and inclusion data.
• Represent the SON on the diversity committees at the University and Health Sciences Center levels.
• Increase awareness of diversity and maintain an inclusive environment at the SON.

Diversity and Inclusion Links

• Diversity Plan Progress Report
• Small Grant Funding (Information and application) [DOCX]
• Faculty and student resources (literature, organizations)
• Health Sciences Center for Diversity and Inclusion
• Health Sciences Center Celebrating Diversity Newsletters
• Belknap Diversity and International Affairs
• School of Nursing Project: Flora Ponder (1954 Alumna)
• Increasing Cultural Competence: Diversity in Nursing Care for Maternal-Child Patient Populations

Engagement and Inclusivity

Cynethia Bethel-Hines DNP, MSN, APRN, PNP-PC, CLC 
Assistant Professor
Coordinator, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Community Engagement