University of Utah
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Nondiscrimination & Accessibility Statement

The University of Utah does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or protected veteran’s status, in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities. Click here to request a reasonable accommodation.

Where discrimination is found to have occurred, the University will take reasonable steps to investigate the matter, stop the harassment, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects.
URL: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

See also Regulations Library, University Policy 1-012: University Non-discrimination Policy
URL: https://regulations.utah.edu/general/1-012.php

Racist & Bias Incident Response Team
URL: https://diversity.utah.edu/initiatives/rbirt/updates/
The Vice President for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) oversees the creation, implementation, and long-term success of university protocols, programs, and processes in order to provide appropriate and calculated responses to incidents involving bias and racism at the university. An online dashboard maintained by the Racist & Bias Incident Response Team reports what happened, what is being done, as well as whether the incident is Closed, In Review, Monitoring, or Resolved.

Public Incident Report
URL: https://utah-advocate.symplicity.com/public_report/index.php/pid426994?
Online report forms are available for incidents of Sexual Harassment/Misconduct, Behavioral Misconduct, Concerning Behavior, and HRE Concerns.

Strategy 2025
URL: https://strategy.utah.edu/
The strategic plan developed by University leadership includes goals to increase mentorship and career development for staff, faculty and students, emphasizing diversity, and to develop additional mechanisms to recruit, develop and retain high-potential staff, faculty and researchers, with an emphasis on increasing our diversity . A measurable outcome is to “Increase both faculty and staff diversity by 35% each.”

STUDENTS

PATHS
URL: https://continue.utah.edu/paths/about
PATHS is a high impact 4-year college access program that creates a learning environment to equip underrepresented and first-generation students to be academically successful and socially resilient. The majority of PATHS students come from disadvantaged communities and identify as either immigrant, refugee, or Dreamer (undocumented students with and without DACA). It is PATHS’ goal to break down educational and social barriers, and assist students in succeeding both in high school and college, and ultimately contribute to the 21st century workforce.

Graduate School Diversity Office
URL: https://gradschool.utah.edu/diversity/
The Graduate School Diversity Office serves as the focal point and resource for diversity, equity, and inclusion services, outreach, and consultation for graduate students, faculty, and staff at the University of Utah. The Office provides the tools and support necessary for prospective and enrolled students from diverse backgrounds to successfully achieve their academic goals, graduate, and pursue professional careers. Recruitment and retention initiatives are highlighted on the Office website.

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Ute Indian Tribe and the University of Utah (Renewed March 2020)
URL: https://administration.utah.edu/ute-mou/
Since 1972 the University of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe have maintained a memorandum of understanding that allows the university’s sports teams to use the name “Utes.” In 2020, the MOU was been expanded to offer additional academic resources to Ute Indian Tribe students through annual financial support to the Tribe and enhance K-12 education at Fort Duchesne.

ACADEMIC & NON ACADEMIC STAFF

School of Medicine Diverse Faculty Recruiting Initiative
URL: https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/research/resources/faculty-diversity
Goal: Serve the people of Utah by advancing Equity-Diversity-Inclusion at the UU SOM by identifying and recruiting outstanding faculty that will advance research excellence and enhance diversity and inclusion within the research community.

Faculty Hiring Initiative (One U Thriving)
URL: https://diversity.utah.edu/initiatives/initiatives/faculty-hiring-initiative/
In the 2014-15 academic year, the University began an open initiative to support recruitment of faculty and postdoctoral fellows from diverse backgrounds. As of July 2016, 19 new faculty members and post-docs from underrepresented backgrounds were hired. The Office of the Senior Vice President adopted new Faculty Diversity Hiring guidelines in 2019.

Diverse Staff Hiring (One U Thriving)
URL: https://diversity.utah.edu/initiatives/initiatives/diverse-staff-hiring
The Division of Human Resources has partnered with the EDI Office to develop a presentation on “Inclusive Hiring Strategies” and a training document for writing position descriptions and advertisements in order to weave concepts of equity, diversity and inclusion into recruitment.

STUDENTS

The Office for First Generation Access (Undergraduate Studies)
URL: https://firstgen.utah.edu/
Promotes inclusive culture, relationships, and practices to support the growing diversity of our student body and to maximize opportunities and contributions by and for students. As a student-centered office, we aim to achieve a healthier and more humane campus culture for all students, especially students from historically minoritized populations, while establishing and maintaining the relationships, communities and organizations from which our students hail. Established in 2019.

University Innovation Alliance (Undergraduate Studies)
URL: https://us.utah.edu/uia/
The University Innovation Alliance is the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to increasing the number and diversity of college graduates in the United States. We share a sense of urgency about this work because we are public universities with a public mission. Higher education needs to do a better job of graduating students across the socioeconomic spectrum, particularly low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color. The University of Utah officially joined UIA on November 30, 2022.

Equity Diversity & Inclusion
URL: https://diversity.utah.edu/
Under the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion umbrella are centers to support specific student populations.
--American Indian Resource Center
--Black Cultural Center
--Center for Equity and Student Belonging
--Dream Center (undocumented students)
--LGBT Resource Center

Veterans Support Center (Student Affairs)
URL: https://veteranscenter.utah.edu/
We are committed to establishing a supportive environment and welcoming campus culture. We enhance the educational experience of military affiliated students to remove barriers and maximize the academic, psychosocial, and career potentials that results in unconditional success in the classroom and beyond.

Women’s Resource Center, (Student Affairs)
URL: https://womenscenter.utah.edu/
The Women’s Resource Center at the University of Utah was founded in 1971. The mission is to support student well-being and success through programs, counseling, training, and scholarships. The Women’s Resource Center does this by leading out on issues of gender equity, engaging in social justice work, advocating for students, and creatively looking for new ways to holistically support students, so that they can find a sense of belonging and purpose at the University and beyond.

Office for First Generation Access (Undergraduate Studies)
https://firstgen.utah.edu/
Graduate School Diversity Office
URL: https://gradschool.utah.edu/diversity/
The Graduate School Diversity Office serves as the focal point and resource for diversity, equity, and inclusion services, outreach, and consultation for graduate students, faculty, and staff at the University of Utah. The Office provides the tools and support necessary for prospective and enrolled students from diverse backgrounds to successfully achieve their academic goals, graduate, and pursue professional careers.

Health Professions LEAP for Minority, Underrepresented and First-Generation Students (LEAP 1100, sections -001 to -011)
A two semester course for incoming freshmen who are interested in careers in the health professions. The course incorporates student support systems and completes general education requirements in order to support retention and degree completion for underrepresented students.

ACADEMIC & NON ACADEMIC STAFF

New Leadership Academy Fellows (EDI)
URL: https://diversity.utah.edu/nla/
Unlike “diversity training” as it’s been typically understood or practiced, the New Leadership Academy (NLA) prepares those in formal and informal leadership positions to lead with equity in their roles. In addition to developing leaders that look like and come from the communities they serve, NLA draws from theory to reframe leadership as a set of skills that can be taught and applied to practice. The NLA Fellows Program serves as a laboratory and model for what leadership development centered on leading for equity can look like, knowing that issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion should be a central consideration for all issues facing leaders.

Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Title IX
URL: https://oeo.utah.edu/
The Office of Equal Opportunity And Affirmative Action (OEO/AA) is dedicated to providing a fair and equitable environment for all to pursue their academic and professional endeavors and to equally access University programs.

Office for Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, UHealth
URL: https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/inclusion
UHealth has EDI office is the College of Health, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and School of Medicine.

McNair Scholars Program
URL: https://mcnairscholars.com/about/
The University of Utah participates in the McNair Schoalrs Program (U.S. Dept. of Education TRIO) designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.

Emerging Diversity Scholars (Graduate School Diversity Office)
URL: https://gradschool.utah.edu/diversity/emerging-diversity-scholars-fellowship/
A fellowship to support graduate students who have demonstrated a commitment to communities historically underrepresented in the United States in graduate education.

National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), institutional membership.
URL: https://officeforfaculty.utah.edu/home-template-2-2/faculty-career-enhancement/
Since 2016 the University of Utah has been an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD). The NCFDD is an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community of faculty, postdocs, & graduate students from over 450 colleges and universities.

University of Utah SACNAS Chapter, School of Medicine
URL: https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/sacnas/
SACNAS is an all-inclusive community dedicated to supporting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and fostering the success of scientists from under-represented backgrounds. Our goal is to help these members attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.

NOTES

Utah House Bill 144
In 2002, the Utah State Legislature passed House Bill 144 in 2002 which allows qualifying undocumented Utah high school graduates the opportunity to attend Utah universities and colleges and pay in-state tuition.

RESOURCES

HR-EDI Statement
URL: https://www.hr.utah.edu/administration/EDI_Statement.php

Graduate School Diversity Office, Comprehensive Resource Guide for Diverse Graduate Students,
URL: https://indd.adobe.com/view/c21c65f9-deed-4ecb-b0b0-7130ed5a5d10

LEAP Learning Communities Annual Report, 2020-21
URL: https://us.utah.edu/annual-reports/leap-annual-report-2020-2021-final.pdf

Trans Resources at the U, LGBT Resource Center
URL: https://lgbt.utah.edu/resources/transresourceindex.php
Links to gender inclusive restroom map, gender inclusive housing, name and gender marker changes, and health resources.