Diversity and Affordability
UVM's President Fogel has committed to increasing diversity and affordability on campus. The university has many programs, multicultural events, and initiatives that encourage diversity on campus. Those include the Abenaki Outreach Program, Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity initiative, the ALANA Student Center, Center for Cultural Pluralism, Diversity & Equity Unit, LGBTQA Center and many more.
Visit the diversity website for more information about these and other programs here.
UVM also has a university wide diversity requirement for all undergraduate students.
PAE Credit 6: Diversity and Equity Coordination (2/2)
UVM's Diversity and Equity Unit, which includes: the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity; the Women’s Center; the ALANA (African, Latino(a), Asian, and Native American) office; and the LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, and Allied) center, aims to:
"engage the University community in a collaboration to create an environment of social justice, inclusion, and equity, and, in so doing, help facilitate the actualization of the vision of the University as a diverse premier public research university.”
UVM would receive 2 out of 2 points for this credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
PAE Credit 7: Measuring Campus Diversity Culture (0/2)
UVM enrolls students from 47 states and students, faculty and staff from over 50 countries, with more the 250 international students. The student population includes people from a variety of races, ethnicities, genders, classes, sexual orientations, abilities, and religions. UVM supports a wide variety of clubs and organizations for students to participate in, including the Asian American Student Union, Council for Unity and the Black Student Center, and provides special-interest housing such as the Kosher Cottages and the ALANA House. All undergraduate students must fulfill 6 credit diversity requirement prior to graduation by selecting courses from an approved list.
A 2005 Campus Climate Survey presented useful information on student and faculty attitudes, especially on the different perspectives present on campus. The survey suggested that the campus community as a whole – students, faculty, and staff – believes that UVM values involvement in diversity initiatives on campus. Over 60% of all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that this is the case. This survey has presented UVM with strengths and weaknesses about diversity and equity on campus that will be taken into consideration in the future.
However, this STARS credit requires that the assessment is used to inform policies, initiatives, and programs, which has not been illustrated thus far. Therefore, UVM would receive 0 out of the 2 possible points for the credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
PAE Credit 8: Support Programs for Under-Represented Groups (2/2)
UVM houses: the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity; the Women’s Center; the ALANA (African, Latino(a), Asian, and Native American) office; the LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, and Allied) center; the Asian American Student Union, Council for Unity; the Black Student Center; and many more clubs and support groups for under-represented groups on campus.
In addition, the Office of International Education, which assists international students as well as runs the Study Abroad program, “strive[s] to create an inviting atmosphere in which our international community finds support.” The Office of International Education "...promotes international understanding, engenders global citizenship and fosters cultural diversity.”
Finally, UVM is committed to recruiting a diverse student body by offering more financial aid to these groups, expanding feeder school networks, and offering summer enrichment programs. UVM would receive 2 out of 2 points for this credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
PAE Credit 9: Support Programs for Future Faculty (0/4)
The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources has a variety of fellowships and scholarships available for multi-cultural students to study in the field of natural resources. These awards are available both at the undergraduate as well as the graduate level.
However, currently there are no programs to support future faculty that meet the requirements for this credit for the entire university. Therefore, UVM would receive 0 out of the 4 possible points.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
PAE Credit 10: Affordability and Access Programs (3/3)
The Student Financial Services at the University of Vermont consider each applicant’s financial situation when he/she applies for financial aid. The procedure includes the student filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which takes into account the student’s financial assets such as savings, income, parents’ income, scholarships and grants, as well as outstanding debts and loans.
As with the federal and state sources, financial aid from UVM funds is also based on financial need as well as academic merit. UVM would receive 3 out of 3 points for this credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
Tier Two Credits
Credit 1: Gender Neutral Housing (0.25/0.25)
Beginning in the fall semester of 2010, UVM began offering gender neutral housing for students who would prefer to room with a student of a different gender. UVM would receive the full 0.25 points for this credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
Credit 2: Employee Training Opportunities (0.25/0.25)
UVM’s Center for Cultural Pluralism, which started its operation in 1999, provides “resources and assistance to the UVM community, Burlington and the state of Vermont on issues of multicultural education, cultural awareness, prejudice reduction, and social justice.
The Center supports and initiates educational and social programs designed to raise awareness, expand understanding and knowledge, and develop skills for effective intercultural communication.” Events include conferences, a social justice film series, a multicultural art series, workshops, mindfulness meditation, and campus multicultural events. UVM would receive the full 0.25 points for this credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
Credit 3: Student Training Opportunities (0.25/0.25)
UVM’s Center for Cultural Pluralism offers resources and training opportunities for faculty, staff, as well as students. UVM would receive the full 0.25 points for this credit.
Kathryn Friedman, Director
Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
