Diversity at the University

Faculty Diversity Officers

Vision Statement

The University of Rochester strives to reflect and celebrate the richness of diversity among individuals and groups.

Mission Statement

The mission of the OFDD and the Faculty Diversity Officers (FDOs) is to collaborate with University leadership and faculty to develop strategies that foster the hiring and retention of underrepresented faculty.  To achieve this mission, the OFDD and FDOs:

    Provide data and analysis to inform decisions by University leadership and other stakeholders in building the best possible faculty

    Provide opportunities for frank discussions to raise awareness among faculty about the current state of diversity and how it can be strengthened

    Facilitate dialogue across the University of Rochester community to foster a more inclusive culture

    Identify and encourage the implementation of best practices for faculty recruitment and retention

Role of Faculty Diversity Officers

To improve the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty within each school, Faculty Diversity Officers:

Emphasize the importance of improving faculty diversity and keeping it in the forefront of  faculty recruitment and retention efforts by:

    Advocating persistently and vigilantly for social justice and equity in research, teaching, and clinical care

    Serving as visible champions to bring issues raised by faculty to the attention of the OFDD

    Serving as liaisons between the OFDD and individual departments

    Providing leadership to encourage both formal and informal organizational change initiatives

Implement best practices to promote diversity through the development and review of school and University policies by:

    Identifying opportunities to improve the climate for recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty

    Enlisting the OFDD to provide visibility on such issues

    Identifying opportunities to develop faculty mentoring and cultural sensitivity programs

    Directing interested faculty to the OFDD for assistance

Serve as organizational change agents by:

    Training search committees to utilize best practices in their outreach and recruitment efforts

    Providing resources developed by the OFDD to search committees

    Participating in the review and interpretation of data related to hiring, retention, and promotion

    Serving as a liaison to provide access to deans beyond the once-a-year meeting with the OFDD

Engage the broader University community in diversity efforts by:

    Creating opportunities for sustained dialogue about diversity within departments and schools

    Attending monthly FDO meetings

    Reporting on routine and innovative school activities

    Helping to develop and participating in two workshops each year and the University of Rochester's Annual Diversity Conference

For questions about the Office for Faculty Development and Diversity of the Faculty Diversity Officers, please contact us at 273-2760