Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Diversity at the College of Dentistry
The UIC College of Dentistry recognizes and embraces professionalism, humanism, collegiality and diversity of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, religious belief and thought, not only for our students, but also for our faculty, staff, and patients.
The college engages in a continual review of its organizational culture and climate as we recognize the ever-changing world national and local cultural landscapes. The college is constantly developing strategies, programs, and services that advance diversity and address the needs of the diverse populations we serve. This includes focused and sustainable programs to recruit and retain students, faculty, and staff of varying backgrounds.
DEIB Philosophy Statement
The mission of UIC College of Dentistry (COD) is to advance oral health through transformative education, research, clinical care, and advocacy. In achieving that mission, the COD holds itself accountable for developing a workforce capable of improving access and quality of dental care for all individuals. This requires that faculty, students, and staff develop empathy, knowledge, personal motivation, and comfort in providing dental care to individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, language, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, values, beliefs, ability, etc.
This further demands that the COD establish and maintain an environment that encourages learning and collaboration among students, faculty, and staff in upholding the three pillars of academia: teaching, service, and scholarship, via the principles of DEIB as defined below:
- DIVERSITY – Recognizes that each individual is unique with multiple dimensions of diversity that intersect, whether seen or unseen, and that society and community life benefit from the engagement of these differences regardless of culture, values, beliefs, race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, military/veteran status, disabilities, religion, economic status, geography or other characteristics or ideologies.
- EQUITY – The fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that fairness regarding these unbalanced conditions is needed to assist in the provision of adequate opportunities to all groups.
- INCLUSION – The practice of leveraging diversity to ensure individuals can fully participate and perform at their best. Inclusion is a shared responsibility of everyone within the community. An inclusive environment values differences rather than suppressing them; promotes respect, success and a sense of belonging; and fosters well-being through policies, programs, practices, learning and dialogue.
- BELONGING – The extent to which a person feels connected to or a part of the campus community and includes one’s subjective evaluation of the quality of connections with others on campus or in the community. A sense of belonging contains both cognitive and affective aspects of the individual’s cognitive assessment of their role in relationship to the group. Factors that may impact belongingness for historically underrepresented and marginalized groups include: interactions with diverse peers, campus engagement in activities, the view of the overall climate and exposure to bias, harassing or discriminatory treatment.
Links to UIC and UI Health
College Resources
Office of Student and Diversity Affairs
The Office of Student and Diversity Affairs develops and implements policies and practices to achieve diversity, inclusion, equity and equality among our students, faculty and staff. The Office of Student and Diversity Affairs serves as a resource for the College Community by creating a learning environment that promotes acceptance and appreciation of the differences in age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability and religion beliefs. The office coordinates trainings in diversity and cultural competency as well as provides assistance, feedback and information related to the student recruitment and enrollment, access to programs and activities.
UIC College of Dentistry Urban Health Program
The mission of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry’s Urban Health Program is to recruit, retain, and graduate underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students, specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans, in the Oral Health Sciences, and to expand educational opportunities for these populations at the pre-college (K-12), undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
Humanistic Learning Environment
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry creates a society of learners, where graduates are prepared to join a learned and a scholarly society of oral health professionals. Our humanistic environment pedagogy inculcates respect, tolerance, understanding, and concern for others and is fostered by mentoring, advising and small group interaction. Our dental school environment is characterized by respectful professional relationships between and among faculty and students, establishing a context for the development of interpersonal skills necessary for learning, for patient care, and for making meaningful contributions to the profession and society.
DAC
The College’s Diversity Advisory Committee plays a pivotal role in fostering inclusively and multicultural awareness at the college. The committee oversees the college’s diversity strategic plan, goals and programs. The Diversity Advisory Committee activities include sponsoring Diversity Day and diversity lunch and learns that showcase the diversity present in our students, faculty and staff with an emphasis on diversity in healthcare.
Resources
Resources
UIC Resources
- UIC Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity
- African American Academic Network
- Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change
- Latin American Recruitment & Educational Services Program
- Native American Support Program
- TRIO / Academic Support Program
- UIC Policy on Religious Accommodations
- Statement of Reaffirmation
Chancellor’s Status Committees
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Asian Americans
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Blacks
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Latinos
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women
Contact
For more information on the College of Dentistry’s Student Services, Diversity, & Resources:
Contact
Dr. Darryl D. Pendleton
Associate Dean for Student and Diversity Affairs
801 South Paulina Street, Room 102GD
312-355-1670
Ms. Meah Rogers
Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
801 South Paulina Street, Room 104
312-355-1327