Inclusive Excellence in Action Series
Spring 2025
Join us for Inclusive Excellence in Action, a dynamic monthly series highlighting key belonging, inclusion, full participation, and relevant social justice areas, practices, and behaviors at UMBC. Held virtually on Wednesdays, these two-hour sessions provide an opportunity to learn from campus experts in the Division of Institutional Equity, and many other campus and community partners.
Each session will offer practical insights into the work in these areas, share valuable resources, and equip participants with actionable skills and behaviors to foster inclusivity in their personal and professional lives. This engaging series will inspire and empower our community to implement inclusive excellence daily.
Dates: February 11, March 11, April 8, and May 13
Format: Virtual, two-hour sessions
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February 11, 2025 - Leading with Empathy: An Interactive Workshop
Presented by: Office of Equity and Civil Rights
In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will gain practical tools for responding with empathy to disclosures of discrimination, harassment, hate, and bias. Topics covered include:
Policies and procedures that guide the work of the Office of Equity & Civil Rights
Key definitions relating to sex discrimination, sex-based harassment, and sexual misconduct, hate, bias, and discrimination
Strategies for incorporating evidence-based, trauma-informed practices in the immediate aftermath of a disclosure
RSVP Here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/137101
Webex Number: 2870 340 8426; Password: IEIASP2024
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March 11, 2025 - Supporting Religious Practice and Pluralism on Campus
Presented by: Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b)
In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will explore strategies for fostering a campus environment that supports religious practice, spiritual well-being, and pluralism. Through discussions, case studies, and collaborative problem-solving, attendees will gain insights into UMBC's commitment to religious inclusion and practical tools to navigate real-world scenarios.
Topics covered include:
Understanding the policies and resources available to support religious practice on campus.
Practical approaches to addressing and accommodating religious needs in academic settings.
Building confidence in fostering religious pluralism through inclusive practices.
RSVP here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/137104
Webex Number: 2869 659 0750; Password: IEIASP2024
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April 8, 2025 - Disability Inclusion through Accessible Resources and Practices
Presented by: Accessibility and Disability Services
In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will gain practical tools to create a more accessible and inclusive campus environment. Led by the Accessibility and Disability Services team, this session will provide insights into supporting individuals with disabilities, implementing proactive, inclusive practices, and understanding the accommodation process.
Topics covered include:
When and how to refer individuals to appropriate disability support services.
Understanding the accommodation process and what to expect.
Meeting obligations under ADA and Section 504 and going beyond compliance to foster inclusion.
Practical steps to create accessible courses, events, and materials.
Building partnerships and allyship to increase accessibility across campus.
RSVP Here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/137103
Webex Number: 2861 798 7578; Password: IEIASP2024
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May 13, 2025 - Cultivating Radical Love & Belonging at UMBC
Presented by: Community and Culture
This workshop introduces participants to ideas and practices for building the Beloved Community at UMBC. The Beloved Community framework embraces inclusion and fosters equity by inviting everyone to participate in culture change and community-building work.
Topics covered include:
Making connections between Inclusive Excellence and Beloved Community
Exploring the 10 principles of beloved community and their applicability on a college campus
Exploring UMBC best practices that contribute to beloved community
Beloved Community Pledge
RSVP Here: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/doie/events/137105
Webex Number: 2861 464 4692; Password: IEIASP2024
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This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
Division of Institutional Equity
The new Division of Institutional Equity (DOIE) is the campus leader and partner in strategic campus-wide equity, inclusion, and belonging. DOIE seeks to redefine inclusive excellence in higher education by helping to foster an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement.
The DOIE encompasses multiple units that contribute to an equitable and inclusive campus climate for students, staff, and faculty and manages relevant campus-wide policies related to nondiscrimination, accessibility, religious accommodations, and more. The Division is grounded in commitments to love, humanity, restoration, equitable opportunity, and liberation, all of which guide the work we seek to do on campus.
Units within DOIE (the DOIE organizational chart)
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Tanyka M. Barber
Accessibility and Disability Services, led by Assistant Vice President, Tawny McManus
The Office of Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS) has primary responsibility for ensuring UMBC’s compliance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in protecting the rights, access, and inclusion of individuals with disabilities. ADS manages and coordinates the disability accommodation processes and access needs for UMBC faculty, staff, and students and serves as a resource to campus visitors. ADS, which includes the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS), works with campus partners to advocate for and support accessible campus spaces and learning opportunities, engages in training and consultation, and serves in collaboration on campus accessibility initiatives.
Equity and Civil Rights, led by Assistant Vice President/Title IX Coordinator, Marcus Foster
The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR) has primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s compliance, training, prevention, and response efforts related to Title IX as well as other civil rights issues, including discrimination, harassment, hate, and bias on the basis of a protected class.
Community and Culture, led by Associate Vice President, Dr. Jasmine A. Lee
The Community and Culture unit is responsible for ensuring the university upholds its core value of inclusive excellence by furthering inclusion and belonging initiatives for students, faculty, and staff. The Community and Culture staff provide training, workshops, cohort experiences, consulting, and other resources related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and overall inclusive excellence. The Community and Culture unit includes the new Center for Social Justice Dialogue and the Women, Gender, and Equity Center (formally known as the Women’s Center), both of which support campus-wide equity and belonging initiatives through dialogue, campus groups, and targeted programming.