University DEI Council

As of May 21st, 2020, the University Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Council at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill serves as the advisory and recommending body to the Interim Chief Diversity Officer, and liaisons to schools and colleges across campus. The DEI Council will work closely with the Interim Chief Diversity Officer to help implement Carolina’s diversity, equity, and inclusion action plan and to promote knowledge, skills, and best practices.The council will also represent a collective voice to advise the Provost and Chancellor on the inculcation of best practices for structural change.

Each dean/vice chancellor of each school or division will fully authorize and empower those who serve in the various roles (e.g., Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Associate/Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence), that shall be compensated commensurate with other senior leadership roles. As a member of the unit’s leadership team, the DEI officer will have a strategic position responsible for promoting and enabling an inclusive environment for faculty, students, and staff while championing organizational change. Further, the DEI officer of each unit will be supported with adequate resources in their role and act on behalf of said unit in the following ways:

• Serve as a member of the dean/vice chancellor’s leadership team;
• Lead in the establishment of an appropriate DEI framework or strategic plan for their respective school or division;
• Propose and lead initiatives that enrich, educate and develop DEI knowledge and skills among students, staff and faculty;
• Facilitate participatory DEI strategic planning and create mechanisms for transparency in implementation;
• Establish and help leverage the gathering of key metrics to track progress toward DEI milestones and a climate of greater inclusion;
• Provide guidance on the establishment of future directions and activities in DEI;
• Serve as a key spokesperson on issues of DEI and serve as a co-lead with communications teams related to inclusive excellence; and,
• Collaborate with key committees and campus leaders to develop processes, plans, curricula and support systems to attract, retain and promote diversity in faculty, staff and students