Diversity and Inclusion
The perseverance of those who have come before us not only edifies our country to lift one another up during hard times, but also allows us to see that ‘as human beings we are more alike than are unalike.’
Department of Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement: To progress beyond our prejudice and bias so that our vision is not limited nor inhibits our opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually fostering further equitability and inclusivity at the University of the Cumberlands.
Become part of the progress, email diversity@ucumberlands.edu to get involved. Check back regularly for more information and events.
Devon Goings, our Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and Martize Smith, Diversity Council Co-President, talk about plans to highlight students and issues in celebration of Black History Month during the month of February. Watch our social media channels for more!
The Networth Network
This program allows for professionals to speak directly to the student body about their future endeavors. Through this program, the Department of Diversity at Cumberlands has established professional relationships where job shadowing, UC Engage, and recommendation opportunities benefit the students who participate. Professionals divulge significant information including their testimonies, the good, the bad, and the ugly of their professions while giving the students a Q & A session toward the end.
Diversity Reading Initiative
The Diversity Reading Initiative is a program designed to get books about diversity into people’s hands so issues relevant to our students and Cumberlands community can be discussed. A new book and topics of discussion will be provided by the Department of Diversity and Inclusion each semester. There will be monthly meetings that will follow to foster dialogue between those involved.
The goal of the program is two-fold:
- The Diversity Reading Initiative seeks to help cultivate and facilitate healthy dialogue across UC’s campus.
- The Diversity Reading Initiative seeks to get good, diverse literature into the hands of UC’s community.
Table Talks
Table Talks will act as a “safe place” where students can come and express themselves based on societal events. Whether it is social inequalities or injustices experienced personally or in society, this forum will be a platform from which all opinions and perspectives will be taken into an account without judgement. Emotions, personal objections, etc. will be given the floor to enable open and honest discussions so that each and every individual is valued.
Experiential Learning
Members of the Diversity Leadership Council have opportunities to learn about issues - both past and present - that have helped to dictate bias in our society. Most recently, students took an experiential learning trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati and discussed how principles of the underground railroad can promote social justice in today's world.
