Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Mission Statement

The University of New Haven embraces diversity and recognizes our responsibility to foster a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment in which all members of the Charger community of all backgrounds and identities can learn, work, and live together. We benefit from the academic, social, and cultural developments that arise from a diverse campus that is committed to equity, inclusion, belonging, and accountability.

We have a responsibility as a community and as individuals to address and remove barriers, achieve success, and sustain a culture of inclusivity, empathy, kindness, and compassion. We encourage, welcome, and embrace participation in ongoing dialogue, engagement, and education to critically examine and thoughtfully respond to the changing realities of our community. Diversity, equity, inclusion, acceptance, and belonging enrich the Charger community and are instrumental to institutional success and fulfillment of the University mission.

A YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND BUILDING MOMENTUM

This report (click to download) highlights our work as a community throughout the 2021-22 academic year.

DEIAB efforts and initiatives addressed some of the campus climate recommendations and the University’s DEIAB goals, including the strategic plan deliverables. Although imperfect, each helped identify gaps and showed promising potential to create small wins and meaningful change. You will also find stories of impact that unified us as a community.

As we look toward a new year and new leadership, we will innovate and continue to measure our DEIAB progress by eliminating systematic barriers, strengthening opportunities for a diverse workplace, and ensuring that students from various backgrounds continue to thrive as Chargers.

We are grateful to all who have shared their talents and insights within our engaged and beloved community. I would like to share a special thanks to Dr. Danielle Wozinak, Dr. Alvin Tran, and the members of the IDEA Council for their support and their dedication to championing our DEIAB efforts across campus.

Sincerely,

Ophelie Rowe-Allen, Ed.D.
Dean of Students and Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Mission Statement: The mission of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Council is to serve as an advisory group to the president and campus community, providing strategic advice and recommendations based on observations, reports, and monitoring concerning diversity on the University of New Haven campus. 

The IDEA Council is committed to bringing together students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni of all identities. These identities—including, among others, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, religion, varying physical ability and mental abilities, marital status, national origin, socioeconomic status, creed, class, age, profession, veteran status, and regional identity—carry socially constructed meaning and value. 

As members of the Council, our commitment is to the cultural competency, intercultural and personal development that is best supported in a climate that respects differences and provides a sense of belonging and inclusion. 

At the University of New Haven, diversity means embracing and celebrating the many differences that exist among the members of a dynamic, intellectual and inclusive community and welcoming the full spectrum of human characteristics, ideas, and world views. As such, the IDEA Council strongly values the broad range of perspectives arising from our diverse society and the campus community. Diversity stimulates learning, encourages imagination, and benefits all – students, employees, and the greater community. It creates an environment that fosters appreciation of the values, skills, and abilities of everyone.

Members of the University community are encouraged to report crimes, suspicious behavior, and incidents of bias through the University’s Report It! Don’t Ignore It! system. Report It! is the University’s primary resource for community members who wish to report a crime or an incident of concern.

You can access Report It! Don’t Ignore It! by clicking here.

Click on the following links to view recordings of recent campus celebrations and events. 

2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Lecture with Hon. Richard Robinson, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court

Email us at ideacouncil@newhaven.edu.

DEIAB Training Request Form

Information coming soon.

Information coming soon.

Click here for terms and definitions.