Realizing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at UW-Madison

LaVar J. Charleston, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

Our Institutional Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinions enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, & diversity as inextricably linked goals.The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty & staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

Working definition of diversity

Previous diversity plans have focused on race, ethnicity and gender, which remain critical problems for UW-Madison. We recognize, however, that to achieve Inclusive Excellence a strategic framework should be expanded to include additional dimensions of diversity. This framework defines diversity as: race and ethnicity; sex; gender, and gender identity or expression; marital status; age; sexual orientation; country of origin; language; disability; socio-economic status; and affiliations that are based on cultural, political, religious, or other identities.

Communicating about Diversity and Campus Climate

Brief Overview of the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA)

  • Student engagement & scholarship programs
  • High impact educational practices
  • Accessibility & belonging administration
  • Shared governance

OHR Equity, Inclusion, & Employee Wellbeing