Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer values diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusion as central to our pursuit for academic excellence, discovery and engagement. To facilitate diverse perspectives, encourage free exchange of ideas, and cultivate mutual respect and compassion, the Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer actively promotes the following programs and initiatives.

Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We are committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where different perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We shall collaborate, promote, and support initiatives that enhance equitable access to higher education, recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff and students, best practices in inclusive and interdisciplinary scholarship, develop educational priorities and learning outcomes that align with our vision and mission, and be actively engaged in community partnerships. 

We are united in the pursuit of building and maintaining an institutional culture with a strong sense of community and belongingness. 

Website: https://www.usu.edu/dei/

Aggies Think, Care, Act

Aggies Think, Care, Act is a campus-wide initiative to foster a caring community that elevates the academic experience for all Aggies and prepares students to become global citizens and leaders. Aggies Think, Care, Act embraces civic responsibility, respect for diversity, and human dignity. We challenge all Aggies to acknowledge and act upon these principles.

Aggies receive unique opportunities for civic engagement and leadership roles that prepare our graduates to become leaders in their local communities and in communities around the world. These opportunities — both inside and out of the classroom — embody the “Aggie Experience.”

The extensive programs affiliated with the Aggies, Think, Care, Act initiative make a Utah State University degree a transformative experience, preparing students to make a meaningful impact on individuals, communities, the state, the nation and our world.

Website: https://thinkcareact.usu.edu

Aspire Alliance IChange Network

USU is a member of the Aspire Alliance’s Institutional Change initiative (IChange) to improve the recruitment, hiring, and retention of faculty from underrepresented groups (URGs) and the employment of inclusive teaching, advising, and research mentoring practices by all faculty. The IChange Network is designed to catalyze institutional change by providing a comprehensive, systematic approach to organizational transformation using a structured self-assessment process to inform the development and implementation of an action plan. Although the national network is focused on the STEM fields, USU has chosen to focus efforts across all academic fields.

USU is participating in the IChange Network under the Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer. Michelle Baker, Abby Benninghoff, and Claudia Radel, along with the Provost & Chief Academic Officer, lead the USU initiative, with an IChange Team that meets monthly to evaluate practices, policy, and resources to develop and implement an action plan for change. The full IChange Team is: Vicki Allan (COS), Michelle Baker (COS), Paul Barr (Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer), Abby Benninghoff (CAAS), Boyd Edwards (COS), Rich Etchberger (Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer), Christy Glass (CHaSS), Susan Madsen (Business), Lindsay Ozburn (Libraries), Claudia Radel (QCNR), Ricardo Ramirez (COS), Heloisa Rutigliano (CAAS), Becca Seamons (Human Resources), Chad Simon (BUS), Mario Suarez (CHES), Melissa Tehee (CEHS), Travis Thurston (AIS), Michael Torrens (Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer), Elizabeth Vargis (Engineering), Richard Walker (CCA), and Celina Wille (Extension).

National Network Website: https://www.aspirealliance.org/institutional-change/ichange-network

Mentoring & Encouraging Student Academic Success (MESAS)

The Mentoring and Encouraging Academic Success (MESAS) Program provides support for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students at USU. The goal of our program is to cultivate a sense of community, culture, and belonging in order to support students' well-being and educational success. We do this through our program services which include: the Faculty advocate, talking circles for students, the annual Indigenous Knowledge Symposium, TEACH training for faculty and staff, as well as the Native American Living/Learning community on campus.

Website: https://www.usu.edu/mesas/ 

Office of Equity

Vision

USU sees an environment in which every individual has an opportunity to learn, work and contribute, and where full inclusion and respect for all people encourages creativity and productivity. The result will be students, faculty and staff working together, serving and strengthening our local, national and global communities.

Mission

We institutionalize affirmative action/equal opportunity concepts and actions into everyday operations and activities:

• Advising and assisting the USU community in ensuring an equal opportunity environment, free of illegal discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment).
• Assisting with efforts to create a gender and ethnically diverse community of students, faculty and staff, in order to redress imbalances and enrich the university experience.

Website: https://equity.usu.edu

Office of Global Engagement

The Office of Global Engagement provides services and support for USU’s international, degree-seeking students and scholars, including immigration services, international admissions and study abroad opportunities. Its mission is to promote the success of students and scholars, connect communities and advance intercultural awareness by providing access to meaningful international experiences, academic exchange, and support services.

Website: https://globalengagement.usu.edu 

Inclusion Center

We support student success at the Logan campus through holistic and inclusive student-centered programming that enhances the academic persistence, personal growth, and social experiences of undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds.

Website: https://inclusion.usu.edu 

Interfaith Initiative

The USU Interfaith Initiative provides opportunities to have meaningful conversations about religious (or lack of religious) commitments and why these are an important part of identity for emerging adults. It provides opportunities to meet and interact with those whose religious commitments are different. Through curricular and co-curricular activities and training, and through deepening their understanding about commonly held values shared across faith-lines, the USU Interfaith Initiative provides our students with the knowledge and the necessary tools to build relationships of trust, caring and common interest that will contribute to a more peaceful 21st Century world.

Website: http://www.interfaith.usu.edu 

Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research

The new Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research will build upon the highly successful history of the university’s Center for Women and Gender. The new center will leave in place the important mission of the Center for Women and Gender while at the same time broadening and strengthening USU’s long-term commitment to students, faculty and women on campus.

Website: https://genderstudies.usu.edu 

Latinx Cultural Center

The Latinx Cultural Center (LCC) at Utah State University serves as a conduit for service, engagement, advocacy, and visibility for the Latinx community on campus and in the Cache Valley and surrounding areas. The LCC is committed to empowering all who recognize a vested interest in the Latinx community by focusing on the pillars of academic, educational, personal, and professional growth. The LCC also serves as a communal space on campus for programs and groups that work to mentor and showcase the academic and individual potential of USU students who identify as Latinx or are interested in Latinx culture. Such programs include LASER at USU, Latinos in Action (LIA) chapter, and much more. In addition, the LCC is devoted to educating the campus and the public on issues that affect the Latinx community and is committed to the cause of diversity and representation in higher education.

Website: https://latinx.usu.edu

More Information

For more information on diversity resources, please contact:

Janis L. Boettinger, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Phone: (435) 797-8176
Email: janis.boettinger@usu.edu