The Davis Center strives to purposefully fulfill the values of UVM’s "Our Common Ground" statement (Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Openness, Justice, and Responsibility) — our building was been designed to support the overall inclusion and diversity mission of the university in a number of ways.
How Do We Walk the Walk?
- Gender–neutral bathroom facilities (in addition to men's and women's bathrooms) one on each floor, four total.
- The Diversity and Equity Unit lounge and office space — a space built specifically with the LGBTQA Center, Mosaic Center for Students of Color, The Women's Center, and the Interfaith Center in mind.
- Welcoming lounge spaces open for all.
- Henderson's Café is named in honor of George Washington Henderson, the first African American man (and UVM alum, class of 1877) to be admitted to the Phi Beta Kappa honors society.
- Employing Universal Design principles — from the accessibility of our physical spaces to the loop hearing system in ballrooms.
Programming Initiatives
- Activities for all: Continuous programming within the building represents a diverse range of performers and ideas.
- Displays: Case displays in the building feature UVM alum Nobel Peace Prize winners, messengers of peace who have come to campus, UVM alums who served in the Peace Corps (over 700!), and a spotlights on the Diversity and Equity units.
- Art with a message: From collaborations with Hunger Free Vermont, Hope Works (formerly the Women's Rape Crisis Center) and the Vermont Foodbank to exhibits related to social-justice programming initiatives, the building is outfitted with art that matters.
- Hosting great thinkers: We aim to attract conferences and other meetings with social justice themes to our amazing fourth floor meeting spaces.
Special of the Day: Socially just Food Choices
- We serve fair trade coffee
- We support local farmers and agriculture through food service partnerships (VT Fresh Network, Black River Produce, Arethusa Farms, and more)
Astute Staff
- The Davis Center aims to have one of the most diverse staffs around. We engage in affirmative action/EOE employment process and engage applicants about their thoughts on social justice through each stage of the hiring process.
- Once we've hired someone, ongoing staff training around topics of racism, sexism, homophobia and more keep our staff members constantly aware and sensitive to the building's mission. Pretty great, huh? Work with us!
Diversity & Equity Units
D&E unit's mission is to engage the UVM community in 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 institution. These units provide a safe and supportive space and community for students, staff, and faculty with specific (and often marginalized) identities within our community.
The Centers that currently make up the D&E units are:
Multicultural Affairs
The Division of Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (HRDMA) recognizes that the people who form our UVM community are our most valuable resource - ensuring UVM employees receive the support needed to contribute to the strategic goals of UVM. This division also actively works to create a learning and work environment that is inclusive and affirming of all of our members.