Diversity, Equity & Affordability
Racial Equity & Social Justice Resources for the Sustainability in Higher Education Community (initiated by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the AASHE Advisory Council)
Statement in Support of Trans Students - Feb. 2023
The UofL Sustainability Council stands in solidarity with trans students at UofL. Our administrators and campus community must do more to support LGBTQI+ students’ identities, expression, and safety. Work for all forms of social justice is deeply entwined, just as structures of power that oppress, marginalize, and exclude are layered into each other. The unsustainable structures we seek to dismantle are built on systems of hate, marginalization, and othering. A just and sustainable future must include safety and affirmation for all members of our campus community. To build this future now, our community must be committed to respect, inclusivity, and justice, and to disrupting and countering hate and exclusion whenever we encounter it.
The University of Louisville is located on the ancestral homeland of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, the Osage Nation, and the Shawnee (including the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, and the Shawnee Tribe), who suffered genocide and forced displacement from these lands. We give thanks for the longstanding relationship that Indigenous Nations have to this land and seek to learn from it in order to heal our own broken relationship with the land. We acknowledge that the University of Louisville was founded in segregation and structural racism. We lament the historical and ongoing injustices that black, indigenous, and people of color endure in this country and around the world. May our words and deeds reflect this reality and contribute to fostering more respectful relationships. Learn more about native lands. and the indigenous peoples of Louisville and Kentucky.
UofL’s new Cultural and Equity Center provides sense of belonging (UofL News 10/22/21)
New and revamped positions boost UofL’s anti-racist agenda (UofL News 3/19/21)
UofL once again named ‘Best of the Best’ for LGBTQ friendliness (UofL News 10/16/20)
Breonna Taylor Memorial Walk, Tree Plantings & Voter Registration 10/2/20
School of Medicine establishes endowed fund to combat racial inequality (UofL News, 9/9/20)
UofL Athletics expands diversity, equity and inclusion efforts (UofL News, 9/3/20)
President Bendapudi announces plan for UofL to become ‘premier anti-racist metropolitan research university’ (UofL News, 7/28/20)
Building the premier anti-racist university (UofL News, 7/28/20)
UofL recognized for providing equal access to Black and Latinx students (UofL News, 7/23/20)
UofL Braden Institute for Social Justice recognized for LGBTQ activism (UofL News, 7/15/19)
Diversity Training for UofL Health Students (UofL News / WHAS, 11/30/18)
SIGS celebrates graduate diversity during annual event (UofL News, 5/15/18)
UofL once again named among top LGBTQ-friendly universities (Aug. 2017)
UofL adds diversity education and training initiative (UofL News, 7/6/16)
UofL receives 2014 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from Insight into Diversity magazine (UofL Today 9/16/14)
UofL receives five-star rating on national LGBT Climate Index (UofL Today 7/11/13)
Urban League honors UofL’s efforts to champion diversity (UofL Today 5/22/13)
UofL praised for supporting minority businesses (UofL Today 12/15/12)
The Office of Diversity & Equity at the University of Louisville strives to foster and sustain an environment of inclusiveness that empowers us all to achieve our highest potential without fear of prejudice or bias.
UofL Diversity Vision Statement
We commit ourselves to building an exemplary educational community that offers a nurturing and challenging intellectual climate, a respect for the spectrum of human diversity, and a genuine understanding of the many differences – including race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, disability, religion, national origin, or military status and diversity of thought that enrich a vibrant metropolitan research university.
Diversity & Equity Coordination
Cardinal Anti-Racism Agenda
In response to the 2020 global Black Lives Matter uprisings following the police killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis, in July 2020, former President Bendapudi announced a plan for UofL to become ‘premier anti-racist metropolitan research university’. The Cardinal Anti-Racism Agenda is a pledge to take a stand against the systemic racism that continues to impact all of us, particularly our Black students, faculty and staff, and other stakeholders of color and from historically marginalized groups. It is a promise that we will take concrete action to lead to much-needed change on campus and in our community. "We have to be a place that celebrates diversity, fosters equity and achieves inclusion for everybody." - Former President Neeli Bendapudi on her first day on the job, May 15, 2018
Commission on Diversity & Racial Equality
The University of Louisville‘s diversity equity committee is the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality (CODRE). CODRE serves as the primary policy advisory group on issues of diversity and racial equality at the University of Louisville and reports to the President. CODRE stays abreast of relevant issues including, but not limited to: recruitment, retention, and promotion of faculty and professional/ administrative staff from diverse populations; group-based inequalities and inequities; the academic success of a diverse racial and ethnic student body including retention, curriculum, and campus climate concerns; addressing sexist and racist conduct that impedes the educational mission of the university; and strategies and praxis that support “education that is multicultural.”
Office of Diversity & Equity
Dr. Faye Jones is the University of Louisville's Senior Associate Vice President of Diversity and Equity. She is responsible for providing leadership and working collaboratively with administrators, faculty, staff and students to advance diversity on campus. Offices under her administrative purview are the Cultural Center, Women’s Center, Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice, and the LGBT Center. Dr. Jones serves on various shared governance bodies, including the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the university-wide Sustainability Council. She is the institutional representative for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) Committee on Equal Opportunities (CEO) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Commission on Access, Diversity and Excellence (CADE). The Office of Diversity & Equity employs a Director of Diversity Education & Inclusive Excellence and an Executive Assistant, all of whom work in collaboration with the employees in affiliated offices.
Office of Diversity Education and Inclusive Excellence
Created in July 2016, based on recommendations from the 21st Century Culture of Excellence and the President’s Diversity Steering Committees, the Office for Diversity Education and Inclusive Excellence is a functional area designed to support campus and community-wide diversity education and training. This unit serves as a focal point for driving the University of Louisville’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion; which fundamentally advances our mission of achieving preeminence as a premier anti-racist metropolitan research university. Innovation occurs when diversity is reflected in thought, perspective, and experience. To this end, this unit is committed to fostering a community that strives towards inclusion and equity by:
- Consulting individuals, departments/units, university leaders regarding best practices concerning diversity and inclusion
- Providing resources to campus and community constituencies
- Offering leadership and training opportunities to campus and community constituencies
- Conducting workshops and training sessions regarding diversity, inclusion, and equity
More information is available online here.
UofL Diversity Plan
In October 2017, UofL released a new 2017-2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan for the University of Louisville with a focus primarily on three groups: (1) African American (includes two or more races of which one is African American), (2) Hispanic/Latino, and (3) low-income. Services to other diverse groups, however, are also included in the narrative. The three components of the plan are Opportunity, Success and Impact. The plan gives details of the strategies, actions and tactics that are designed to enhance student enrollment and success. These strategies and tactics will be assessed in terms of their impact. Diversity goals include metrics and goals for student enrollment, retention and graduation. The impact section includes metrics and goals for increasing the number of diverse faculty and staff. Equal attention is given to the strategies and best practices that are used to support faculty through the tenure and promotion process as well as professional development and promotional opportunities for staff. It also delineates the structures that are in place to enhance cultural competency for students, faculty and staff and the tools that are used to monitor and improve the campus climate. Finally, it includes an assessment plan for each strategy. The conclusion summarizes the plan and identifies barriers and what is being done to minimize them.
The diversity planning process is robust and ongoing. Each college/school/unit has a diversity committee appointed by the dean/vice president and is charged with planning for diversity programs and services. The chairs of the unit diversity committees, comprised of students, faculty and staff, and the Campus Environment Team, which includes the chairs of the Faculty and Staff Senates, have been involved in the planning process for developing goals and strategies for the diversity plan. Additionally, the Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the President of the Association of Black Students (ABS) have been involved in the development of the plan, providing input from their constituents. The plan has also gone through a vetting process to get input from the Council of Academic Officers, the President’s Executive Leadership Team, the Faculty and Staff Senates, the Student Government Association, the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality, and the Commission on the Status of Women. The president and provost presented the plan to the Board of Trustees for approval at their fall 2017 meeting.
Diversity Council
To further improve diversity and equity coordination across the university, in 2019, UofL established a Diversity Council which has representatives from CODRE and every university unit (both academic and non-academic units). It is Chaired by Diane Whitlock (Chief of Staff in the Office of Diversity and Equity) and Ryan Simpson (Program Director in the Health Sciences Center's Office of Diversity and Inclusion).
In early 2022, UofL is hiring a new position to lead the coordination of our diversity and equity work, a Vice-President for Diversity and Equity.
Health Sciences Center (HSC) Office of Health Equity and Engagement
The goal of the HSC Office of Health Equity and Engagement is to enhance partnership across the schools on the Health Sciences Campus (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Information Sciences, Dentistry) and to promote an environment of inclusiveness through the understanding and celebration of the many differences in perspectives, thoughts, experiences, belief systems and cultures of students, faculty and staff. It places a major emphasis on increasing the number of students from racial/ethnic groups designated as underrepresented into the health professions system. Emphasis is also given to recruiting, retaining and promoting a diverse workforce. There are ten employees in the office.
Additional information about the office can be found online here.
Measuring Campus Culture
Biannual Campus Climate Surveys
On-line campus climate surveys are administered to the university community. The most recent survey for students focused on diversity and inclusion relative to student life and their experiences in the classroom. The Campus Climate and Diversity Survey for Faculty and Staff is a campus-wide assessment of diversity, inclusion, and workplace climate at the University of Louisville. With input from campus constituents, including the Chairs of the Campus Diversity Committees and the Campus Environment Team, the survey was re-envisioned in 2017 to better meet the needs of our community members and to ensure that the university is fulfilling its mission with respect to climate, diversity and inclusion. The survey questions are about faculty and staff perceptions of the various contributors to the campus climate at UofL. The survey is divided into two modules, with one module administered each year. This new cycle allows for the 1) collection of baseline information, 2) creation and implementation of action plans, and 3) reassessment of the themes/modules again after sufficient time for implementation, to measure improvement based on the actions taken. For more information on the new process, please review the Campus Climate and Diversity Survey 2-Year Survey Cycle.
Results of the Campus Climate Survey are posted online.
The AVP of Diversity and Equity, in collaboration with the chairs of the commissions, recommends and advises the administration regarding changes to to better serve the needs of students, faculty and staff. As a result, changes have been made to improve the campus culture, such as:
- Domestic partner benefits – the University of Louisville was the first state-supported university in Kentucky to adopt domestic partner benefits to qualifying adults.
- Gender- Neutral restrooms – several restrooms on campus were converted to gender-neutral restrooms in response to the need to be sensitive to members of the campus community who are gender non-conforming or transgender. In addition, gender-neutral restrooms will be a part of all new campus constructions.
- Cultural Center – a Cultural Center was developed to facilitate and enhance cultural programming and education to the campus community.
- Hispanic/Latino initiative – an initiative designed to empower Hispanic/Latino(a)s to earn a college degree at the University of Louisville and create an environment in which they can enrich their lives and the community.
Commission on the Status of Women
In 1994, UofL's Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) organized a report which presented the status of women in all employment categories and recommended changes to improve the climate for women and all UofL employees. In 2008-2009, COSW organized an update to the original 1994 report. The members of COSW analyzed and reviewed each of the objectives and recommendations to ascertain whether progress has been made towards outcomes for the identified goals. As part of the methodology for this review, the COSW conducted 10 focus groups and individual interviews with campus leaders. UofL policies, procedures, publications and programs were reviewed. Based on the findings, the Commission on the Status of Women made recommendations regarding representation, recruitment, retention, campus environment and integration of work and family life for women. The Provost has appointed the AVP of Diversity and Equity to serve as the point person in addressing these recommendations.
Campus Safety Survey
In January 2010, the PEACC program (Prevention, Education and Advocacy on Campus and in the Community), conducted a confidential online survey to a random sample of participants to assess campus violence experiences and perceptions at UofL. Survey results will provide important information to enable UofL to create programming and improve safety services to students, staff and faculty.
Black Faculty/Staff Association
The Black Faculty/Staff Association (BFSA) recently conducted focus groups to assess the attitudes of employees related to compensation, access to information, and climate for staff. In collaboration with the Staff Senate, recommendations were shared with university administrators and changes were made to improve the campus environment for staff at the university.
In addition, the Office of Diversity & Equity hosts periodic meetings (formally and informally) with students, faculty and staff from under-represented groups to get their opinions and discuss issues or concerns related to diversity, inclusion and campus climate.
Support Programs for Under-Represented Groups
On March 7, 2016, the board of directors of the University of Louisville Foundation unanimously approved the following statement: “This Board of Directors supports the basic tenet of accessible collegiate education for all citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and encourages the leadership of the University and its Boards to be key partners in preserving access to higher education, especially for minority and economically-disadvantaged citizens.”
The University of Louisville has a number of programs that support under-represented groups within the student body, the faculty and the staff. Examples include:
Cardinals Rising
Cardinals Rising is a transformative college readiness program for students in grades 8-12, which began accepting students in Fall 2024. This exceptional program bridges the educational divide by fostering a college-going culture among under-served, low-income, and first-generation students. Through a robust collaboration with various UofL academic units and local middle and high schools, Cardinals Rising is not just a program; it's a movement toward educational equity.
The program, has a goal of serving 200 students in grades 8-12. It culminates in scholarships for students who fulfill its requirements, offering them a tangible pathway to higher education. Moreover, support extends to the families of these students, equipping parents and guardians with the knowledge and tools to aid their child's educational journey.
TRIO Student Support Services
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the University of Louisville. SSS is committed to helping low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities achieve a bachelor’s degree. The program’s mission is to increase retention and graduation rates by offering academic, financial, and personal support.
During the academic year, SSS students receive individual and group advising to foster positive study habits and academic success. Students can take advantage of a comfortable learning environment, financial counseling, leadership opportunities, cultural excursions, and exciting academic workshops. There is no cost of participation for the student.
Cultural Center's Early Arrival Program
UofL's Cultural Center has for years hosted an Early Arrival Program for under-represented groups to increase rates of academic success and retention. The program helps students transition from high school to college with opportunities for discussions, networking, social activities and strategies for academic success.
The Cultural Center Early Arrival Program (EAP) was created to help ease the transition of incoming students of color including African American males, Latino students and Woodford R. Porter Scholars, from high school to college and to teach them the tips and tricks of prospering in their first year of college. Throughout the week students participate in an enriching series of discussions, events and networking activities focused on showing students what it means to be an active and engaged student at the University of Louisville.
This program is designed to provide recipients the opportunity network and start to build relationships with people that they identify as part of their support system including their peers. Participants include:
African American Male Initiative: This track aids AAMI participants in their successful transition to college life at the University of Louisville.
Hispanic/Latin@ Initiative: This track helps Hispanic/Latino students gain awareness of and develop skills necessary to ensure academic success through intentional connections with current students, faculty, and staff.
Woodford R. Porter Scholarship Program: This track helps scholars gain significant awareness of and develop the skills necessary to ensure academic success through intentional connections with faculty, staff, students and special community guests.
C.O.N.E.C.T.
15k/55k Initiative
In 2009-2010, 27.9 percent of the adults (33.0 percent of white adults and only 14.1 percent of black adults) in Metro Louisville had completed at least four years of college, roughly equal to the national average but far below our leading peer cities. The 55K Initiative was organized in 2010 to address this problem by adding 55,000 new degree holders to our community by 2020 - with a corresponding 15K Initiative to eliminate the racial attainment gap by insuring that 15,000 of those new graduates are African Americans.
Society of Woodford R. Porter Scholars
A society of African-American scholarship recipients named in honor of Woodford R. Porter, Sr., a leader in Louisville's civic, business and education communities. He was the first African-American to serve as President of the Louisville School District Board of Education and as Chairman of the University of Louisville's Board of Trustees. The group was formed in 1986 to provide academic and social support to UofL's Porter scholars with the goal of increasing the retention and graduation rates of Porter Scholars. The organization also promotes interaction, enhances leadership opportunities and personal development as well as encourages professional/graduate education.
MAPS (Monitored Academic Preparation for Success)
Offered for Woodford R. Porter Scholars who have earned fewer than 60 credit hours and who have been identified as having academic difficulty. This program offers structured advising and academic support and is a collaborative effort involving Porter Scholars Advising and Resources for Academic Exchange (REACH).
School of Interdisciplinary & Graduate Studies
The School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS) is committed to providing financial support for UofL departments and programs to assist in the matriculation and graduation of qualified, underrepresented ethnic minority students.
- Minority Fellowships - Approximately 12-15 ethnic minority fellowships are awarded annually. Both master’s and doctoral students are eligible for consideration. Doctoral students are funded for two years, with a commitment of support for an additional two years from their department. Master’s students are funded for one year, with the same commitment from their department for an additional year. Students must be enrolled full-time for the duration of their funding and the award includes a stipend, tuition, and health insurance.
- Visitation Day is an annual program sponsored and conducted by the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS). The program is a day and a half event, in which SIGS hosts prospective graduate students. Historically, Visitation Day has targeted minority students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, along with minority students from other regional institutions of higher education. The program is a diversity initiative; however, students of all ethnic backgrounds are eligible to apply. The aim of Visitation Day is to connect academically qualified upper-class undergraduate students who have a strong desire to pursue graduate education with faculty, staff, and current graduate students at the University of Louisville as a way of providing an up close and personal campus visit. Participants of the program attend workshops on admissions and scholarships/financial aid. Overnight hotel accommodations and meals are covered for students who are selected to attend.
- Graduate Teaching Academy - The Graduate Teaching Academy was created in 2008 and is designed to assist Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) from different disciplines who are assigned some classroom responsibilities as part of their assistantship to develop knowledge, skills, and excellence in classroom teaching. The focus of the academy is on the following topics: critical thinking, development of evaluation rubrics for the classroom, creating a learner-centered syllabus, stimulating active learning, classroom management, test development, and student learning styles and generational differences. Many ethnic minority graduate students participate in the Academy.
- Professional development workshops - A new initiative within the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS) is the Professional Development program for graduate students, known as PLAN (P – Professional Development, L – Life Skills, A – Academic Development, N – Networking). PLAN aims to provide a series of professional development workshops, which are interdisciplinary in nature, for current graduate students. Some workshops are designed specifically for ethnic minority fellows and SREB scholars. Each fall, SIGS sponsors a “welcome back social” for all ethnic minority graduate students as a way of connecting them to one another and to provide networking with ethnic minority faculty, who are also invited. Other workshop topics include but are not limited to financial planning, mentoring, critical thinking, and job placement.
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The annual
Celebration of Excellence in Graduate Diversity awards ceremony is part of SIGS' effort, underway since 2014, to help support graduate and doctoral students from underrepresented populations by connecting them to their university community. Latonia Craig, SIGS director of graduate recruitment and diversity retention, joined UofL in 2014 to develop programming that would support students awarded SIGS minority fellowships. She was tasked with finding ways to help the fellows solve common problems that caused them to leave the university before finishing their degrees. In at the May 2018 ceremony, Craig said, “We want the world to know that when UofL’s diverse graduate students of color transition into the workforce or even decide to pursue another degree, they will have made this decision knowing that their campus community has supported them.”
Student Organizations
- American International Relations Club (AIRC) - serves as a platform for unity in diversity for American and International students from around the world. The primary objective is to bring together students from diverse backgrounds, different countries, several languages, and across cultures into one common thread.
- Black Student Union (BSU) - designed to motivate Black students to become involved on campus, coordinate activities to strengthen cultural and political awareness, and provide assistance to the development and utilization of resources.
- Black Law Students Association (BLSA), UofL Chapter - (NBLSA) is a nationwide organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuates change in the legal community.
- Black Biomedical Graduate Student Organization (BBGSO) – dedicated to the enhancement of the graduate experience for African-American and minority students in the sciences. BBGSO provides UofL students with professional, educational, and social support.
- Fighting for Immigrant Rights and Equality (FIRE) – the university’s chapter of a larger statewide student network, FIRE is dedicated to improving the college experience for undocumented and DACA students.
- Latin American/Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO) – designed to bring together students across the spectrum of Hispanic/Latino (a) identities, LAHSO hosts campus trainings and cultural events to create a welcoming climate.
- Shades - the organization for LGBT students of color on campus. Members include individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions to promote equality and diversity on and off campus.
- Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) - purpose is to assist African American males to excel academically, socially, culturally and professionally on campus and in the community.
- Student National Dental Association, UofL Chapter - SNDA promotes increase in minority enrollment in dental schools, and encourages a viable academic and social environment conducive to the mental and professional wellbeing. Members of the UofL Chapter work within the community with such programs as the YMCA Black Achievers program, and participate in various annual community programs which entail informing and educating children and adults about the importance of good oral hygiene.
- Transformations – Focused on support and peer education for students who are transgender, gender nonconforming, or questioning gender identity.
More details on these and other student organizations.
Affirmative Action Office
The mission of the affirmative action/employee relations unit includes:
a. Mediating disputes between university employees in conflict in order to facilitate communication of issues/expectations and/or resolve dispute.
b. Assisting persons with disabilities with fully participating in university employment and employment opportunities including conducting ADA investigations as requested.
c. Listening and advising staff concerning difficulties they are experiencing with respect to work and/or home issues/challenges.
d. Conduct construction site visits to ensure compliance with contract provisions relating to nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity.
e. Preparing and presenting employee informational and other seminars to proactively address issues involving respect in the workplace, harassment, employment rights and responsibilities, or other workplace issues which might negatively impact positive employee relations.
f. Assisting staff and departments with family and medical leave issues and requests.
g. Administering the university commercial driver's license program to ensure we are in compliance with federal law.
h. Attend CODRE and Commission on the Status of Women meetings in order to receive and/or convey information.
i. Coordinate with the AVP of Diversity and Equity on diversity and other initiatives.
Communication Classes for Non-native English Speakers
UofL's Intensive English as a Second Language (IESL) program offers a Communication in English class that is designed to help non-native speakers of English (high-intermediate to advanced proficiency) become more effective communicators in academic, professional and social situations. Class instruction focuses on conversational fluency and strategies for professional interactions. Tuition remission is available for most UofL employees and evening classes are offered. For information, visit the IESL website or call 502-852-5901.
Louisville Latino Education Outreach Project
UofL is part of the Louisville Latino Education Outreach Project (LLEO), which is aimed at fostering educational and professional success among Latinos. LLEO created a Latino Student Resource Guide to help Latino students and families identify support in the form of scholarships, financial aid, community resources, resources for Dreamers, resources for getting into college, and career development. In Summer 2015, LLEO members participated in the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Check out photos here. LLEO is a project of the Kentucky Latino Education Alliance and is funded through the Lumina Foundation.
UofL set to welcome largest number of freshmen Latino students(UofL Today, Aug. 17, 2015)
Faculty/Staff Organizations
- Black Faculty/Staff Association - founded in 2002, the purpose of this organization is to address faculty and staff issues and develop a system of advocacy for Black employees of the University of Louisville.
Hispanic Latino Faculty and Staff Association (HLFSA) - advises the President and the University of Louisville community on the nature of issues and needs confronting the Hispanic/Latino Faculty, Staff, and Students in the University; provide assistance in evaluating University programs as they pertain to the Hispanic/Latino community; provide input to University and City of Louisville officials; and assist the Hispanic/Latino community to make the University system more accessible. It began operating in 2011.
Faculty and Staff for Human Rights (LGBT employee resource group) - U of L Faculty & Staff for Human Rights (FSHR) is a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer-identified (LGBTQ) employees and allies dedicated to promoting policies and a campus climate that ensure equality for all.
Support Programs for Future Faculty
Program to Support Diverse Faculty Hires
In 2016, a new program to support diverse faculty hires was approved by the UofL administration. When fully implemented, an allocation of $2,430,000 will support the hiring of new diverse faculty over five years. The program was initiated in academic year 2016-17 based on guidelines for applying for the funds developed the year before.
Southern Regional Education Board
The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve education in its 16 member states (including Kentucky). The University of Louisville (UofL) is specifically involved with the SREB-Doctoral Scholars Program, which is committed to increasing faculty diversity. The Doctoral Scholars Program supports a nationwide initiative to produce more minority PhDs and encourages their pursuit of joining the professoriate. The program offers financial support and guidance for doctoral students throughout their studies.
UofL participates in SREB’s annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, which is the largest gathering of minority doctoral scholars in the country. While at the Institute, doctoral students attend workshops designed to assist in their scholarship and prepare them for success as faculty members. UofL’s participants in the Institute have traditionally included students (SREB doctoral scholars), faculty mentors, and staff, who attend the Institute to recruit minority faculty.
Currently, there are five former SREB doctoral scholars who hold faculty positions at UofL. Four SREB doctoral scholars earned their doctorates in May 2010, and there are another 18 students participating as doctoral scholars, dissertation scholars or institutionally funded scholars. We expect four additional SREB students (two doctoral scholars and two institutionally funded scholars) for the 2010-11 academic year. The “institutionally” funded SREBS are a creation of the University of Louisville and the CPE, and they provide programmatic support and travel money for attendance at the Institute for a limited number of qualified students who have funding provided by grants or assistantships elsewhere in the university.
Arts and Sciences Peer Mentoring Program
Supports small groups of junior faculty, many of which are faculty of color, who want to learn how to be productive scholars and effective teachers. These peer mentoring groups meet regularly to discuss with other junior faculty various topics, including how to be a productive scholar, time-management skills, syllabus design, teaching practice, or the formal and informal standards for success.
Inclusive Teaching Circles
Inclusive Teaching Circles are small cohorts of faculty who meet monthly to discuss how teaching can be made more inclusive of students of all social identities. Typically, such meetings focus on a reading concerning research on oppression, pedagogy, or best practices. The outcomes include more effective and inclusive teaching practices and the development of a community of practitioners who come together to share their experiences and knowledge.
Affordability and Access Programs
UofL recognized as national leader in first-generation student support (UofL News, 8/7/24)
Affordable excellence (UofL News, 3/1/24)
UofL Indicators of Affordability (2015):
- Percentage of entering students that are low-income: 37.6%
- Graduation rate for low-income students: 47.5%
- Average percentage of student financial need met (tuition): 79.5%
- Percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt: 43%
UofL President Promises No Tuition Hike, Transparency & Balanced Budget (Feb. 14, 2017)
Who Pays for Public Higher Education? A state-by-state comparison (The Chronicle of Higher Education 3/3/14)
Upward Bound
$3.3 million allows UofL to continue Upward Bound program (UofL Today, Nov. 26, 2012)
UofL recognized as top LGBT-friendly university by three national groups (UofL News, Sept. 6, 2018)
The University of Louisville Upward Bound Program is a federally funded project that has existed on the UofL Belknap Campus for more than 40 years. The program affords the opportunity for its student participants to excel in the standard pre-college curriculum and ultimately during post-secondary educational endeavors. Upward Bound serves high school students from first generation and/or low income families; first generation families are described as those in which neither parent holds a collegiate bachelor degree; low-income families are those that meet the pre-established guidelines as required by the federal government. The goal of the Upward Bound Program is to increase the rate at which its student participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of post-secondary education.
Cardinal Commitment Grant
The University of Louisville offers the Cardinal Commitment Grant to first-time students from the state of Kentucky entering UofL in the fall of 2022. This grant is intended to provide Pell-eligible students who have demonstrated success in the classroom with the financial support needed to attend a four-year university. The Cardinal Commitment Grant is a "last dollar scholarship" intended to fill the gap between a student's financial aid and the cost of tuition. The award amount is calculated by subtracting all federal and state need-based grants, KEES as well as university and institutional aid from the cost of tuition. This award is renewable for students who continue to meet satisfactory progress. The award amount is locked for renewed years, regardless of changes to a student's state or federal aid, and UofL will continue to award the Cardinal Commitment each semester until the student's first Bachelor's degree is awarded. See: UofL launches Cardinal Commitment Grant to fill the gap in college cost (UofL News, Feb. 17, 2022)
Highlighting affordability in the schedule of classes
Course Notes are a system for labeling sections in the schedule of classes in a way that students will know the course materials are low-cost or no-cost. If you teach courses using no-cost or low-cost materials, please use or ask your course schedulers to use the standardized codes for your course sections. Below are the CourseLeaf/PeopleSoft codes and the text of the notes as it will appear in the course schedules:
- 0282: This section uses zero-cost course materials/textbooks ($0)
- 0283: This section uses low-cost course materials/textbooks (under $50)
For more information, visit the webpage. For questions, email Lidiya Grote.
Gender Neutral Housing & Bathrooms
Housing and Residence Life has been providing special accommodations (private room, private bath) for transgender and transitioning students for several years by special request of the student. During the 2009-2010 academic year, the housing application form was updated so that students now have the option of requesting special housing based on gender identity and expression. Annually, housing staff and resident assistants receive training on transgender identity and how to be a supportive ally.
In 2012, the LGBT Center opened the Bayard Rustin Themed Housing Community as a new intentional housing option for students interested in exploring social justice and LGBT identity. Up to 22 students live on the floor and participate in service projects, targeted programming, and a biannual Civil Rights Immersion Experience in Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, Alabama.
In 2009 after requests from students, the university converted a number of single-stall restrooms to create more gender-neutral options on campus. In 2011 and 2012, a group of doctoral students worked with the LGBT Center to add signage to some restrooms in the College of Education and Human Development that designated them “transgender friendly.” The restrooms remained public, gendered options but with the caveat that people in the building could decide for themselves which restroom fit their gender identity/expression. In 2015, similar restrooms in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences were designated as transgender friendly.
UofL's LGBT Center maintains an updated list of the many Gender Inclusive Bathrooms on Campus. It lists such locations on both Belknap campus and HSC.
In 2014, UofL received a 5-star ranking on the Campus Pride Index and has been ranked in the top 30 each year since. In 2016, UofL jumped into the top 16.There has been a host of other milestones during the UofL LGBT Center’s 10+ years, including:
- In 2007, UofL became the first Kentucky school to offer health insurance benefits to LGBT couples.
- In 2008, UofL became the first school in Kentucky to add “gender identity” to its non-discrimination policy.
- In 2009, UofL became the first school in the country to endow a chair in LGBT studies, held by Dr. Kaila Story.
- In 2010, UofL established gender-neutral restrooms on both the Belknap and Health Sciences Center campuses.
- In 2012, UofL launched the Rustin Community, the region’s first LGTBQ and ally-themed housing floor.
- In 2013, UofL launched the LGBT study abroad program, the first of its kind in the south.
Also, in 2014, UofL became the first university in the country to open a staffed LGBT office in a medical school, directed by Stacie Steinbock. The office now leads the nation in LGBT competency training through its eQuality Project, which has been recognized nationally.
Other Programs Promoting Diversity
The University of Louisville provides a variety of other programs and services that, while not specifically targeted to low-income students, provide significant benefits to students and parents from low-income backgrounds. Examples include:
- Up Close & Personal – an interactive and personal shadowing program for individual scholars & parents that gives each participant a “closer look” at the University of Louisville campus and academic programs. Prospective African American students are invited to campus to shadow a pre-selected mentor to class, lunch, and his/her club and/or organization meetings. Students also have the opportunity to meet with an Admissions Counselor for one-on-one consultation.
- Think College Now! – a half-day college awareness program for freshmen and sophomore African American high school students consisting of financial aid and student life workshops, campus torus and an information fair featuring academic and student service departments.
- O’YES! (Order Your Educational Steps) – a campus visit program designed for high school, community, & church groups. The O’YES group visit program allows teachers, counselors, youth program coordinators, and other group chaperones and mentors to bring students to campus for an interactive day of events. Group participants engage in conversation with USHR (Undergraduate Students Helping to Recruit) mentors through a student panel, enjoy a complimentary lunch on campus, and meet with Diversity Recruitment representatives for instant admissions and scholarship decisions.
- Making the Connection – pre-orientation program designed to help beginning African American freshmen connect to each other, as well African American faculty, staff, and administrators. Students are given a special tour of the campus with emphasis placed on student service and multicultural “hot spots.” Ice-breakers, food, and cultural entertainment are provided to help students to make the transition to college prior to the beginning of fall classes.
- Undergraduate Summer Program in Cardiovascular Research – for students from Under-Represented or Under-Served Populations - The primary objective of this program is to expose undergraduate students from under-represented and under-served populations to cardiovascular research at the University of Louisville. The program is supported by a NIH Short-Term Training Grant from the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute.
- REACH (Resources for Academic Exchange) – provides academic services and specific support programs to enable students to better prepare and adapt to college life and to enhance their academic skills and performance in college courses.
- USHR (Undergraduate Students Helping to Recruit) – The USHR Mentoring Program is a two- part program that focuses on the retention of current students while serving as a mentoring organization for prospective African American students. Through USHR, current UofL students are paired with prospective senior high school students in order to assist them in their exploration of educational and leadership opportunities at the University of Louisville.
- University of Louisville Talent Search Program – a 5-year grant-based initiative which will help more than 500 students from six public schools in Jefferson County. The program targets middle and high school students who have the potential to succeed in college and provides them with academic, personal and career counseling. New $1.1 million grant to help students prepare for college (UofL Today, November 11, 2011)
UofL makes life easier for LGBT and International students by issuing UofL ID Cards with preferred names (UofL Today, Sept. 17, 2015)
Employee Training Opportunities
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
The Affirmative Action/Employee Relations Office offers training regarding sexual harassment. The course includes:
- Defining and identifying sexual harassment
- University policy and accompanying laws
- Course of action for victims or accused
- Reporting responsibilities
- Complaint resolution
- On-line Training Supplement -Preventing Sexual Harassment is an interactive web-based training program that provides an innovative way for employees to gain a basic understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment as well as what is and what is not acceptable in today's environment. The program provides a means to evaluate understanding and answers common questions. The program is used as a point of reference and does not replace training provided by the Affirmative Action/Employee Relations Office.
Safe Zone Project
The university’s is a workshop designed to give faculty and staff the tools and resources they need to understand LGBT students and create a welcoming, affirming campus environment for all. Participants attending this fun and informative half-day session are not required to be an expert in sexuality or gender identity/expression to attend, but rather someone who is interested in helping all members of the campus community succeed. Workshop participants receive a comprehensive resource manual and a poster or sticker to display somewhere in the office. Displaying a Safe Zone poster or sticker sends the message to others that you are comfortable talking about LGBT issues, and that you are supportive and willing to listen.
UofL named ‘Best of the Best’ among LGBTQ-friendly universities - One of only 16 schools receiving five-star rating (UofL News, Aug. 22, 2016)
UofL's Health professionals to train in transgender care (UofL Today, June 9, 2015)
Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning
The university’s Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning offers conferences, workshops, symposiums and training through the Faculty Instructional and Development Program. Examples of these programs include:
- Facilitating Difficult Discussions - faculty receive training on strategies to successfully manage difficult topics that can come up in any class.
- Using Newspapers and Online Media to Enhance Student Learning in a Multicultural World – faculty learn how to integrate course content and current events from diverse perspectives to can foster students’ multicultural awareness and understanding.
- Inclusive Teaching Circles - small, consistent groups of faculty, lecturers, and GTAs who are dedicated to teaching that is inclusive and equitable for all students. Teaching that is inclusive and equitable takes positive steps to ensure that no student is excluded, marginalized or denigrated by either course design or classroom pedagogy, with special attention to members of historically excluded or marginalized groups. Such educational practice requires reflection on how social identities can impact course design, classroom pedagogy, and instructor-student interactions. This program was originally developed in 2005 by the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Diversity and Outreach (now, Office of International, Diversity, and Outreach Programs).
Cultural Center
The Cultural Center provides cultural competency and diversity education for faculty and staff of the university. During 2009-2010, the Cultural Center collaborated with and provided training and education for university advisors, unit diversity committees, Provost’s staff, and Student Affairs staff. Every Wednesday of the month the Center collaborates with other units and organizations to host educational workshops for students and employees. The second Wednesday of each month is specifically designed as a faculty colloquium series in which faculty and academic administrators are invited to discuss strategies to increase the success of students from under-represented groups.
The Cultural Center in collaboration with the First Year Initiatives Department provides "Difficulty of Difficult Discussions" training for students and staff. This training is designed to engage participants in dialogue about difficult cultural topics, and provide them with tools to successfully navigate these topics with others.
Additionally, diversity awareness and training programs are provided within some units and/or upon request. For example, Information Technology employees and all campus police officers are required to participate in diversity training.
I have stated since my first day on this job that my commitment to the University of Louisville is to make it a great place to learn, a great place to work, and a great place in which to invest. We can only accomplish this if we truly celebrate diversity, foster equity, and aim to achieve inclusion.
