Diversity, Equity and Engagement
Diversity, equity, engagement and inclusion serve a vital role in our educational, research, and service activities. In the Office of Diversity, Equity and Engagement, we ground our approach to diversity through academic research and scholarship and deep institutional data.
Our goal is to create and sustain an affirming academic climate and culture that values the whole individual. Through this framework, we are able to grapple with the historical context of an institution built by enslaved laborers, and a founder who bought, owned, and sold human beings, but also wrote that “all men are created equal” in the United States Declaration of Independence. Through our work, we are able to meet the 21st century demands for a larger and more heterogeneous workforce skilled in engineering and applied science, while also addressing well-known challenges for certain groups to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Who We Are
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Engagement, comprised of students, staff, and faculty, works closely with internal and external stakeholders—such as the UVA Engineering Office of Undergraduate Programs, the Multicultural Student Center, the University's Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the University's Office of the Dean of Students, UVA Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Center for Teaching Excellence—to put these values in action. Each department in UVA Engineering has a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and we also offer training and consultations for faculty and staff.
What We Do
Most importantly, we provide students with:
- resources for personal and professional development
- resources for financial assistance
- academic advising and tutoring
- a summer Bridge program for entering first-years
- a variety of support services through the Center for Diversity in Engineering (CDE), a space designed to promote success in all of our students
All of our programs are assessed to ensure both efficacy and efficiency.
Explore our Resources
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Center for Diversity in Engineering
The Center for Diversity in Engineering is a student space dedicated to advocating for underrepresented groups in STEM—racial minorities, female, first-generation and low-income, and LGBTQ+ identifying students.
Facts about UVA Engineering
- Recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) for its diversity efforts.
- Top graduation rate for African-American, Asian, Hispanic students and multi-racial engineering students among engineering schools surveyed by ASEE.
- 33 percent of undergraduate students were women in 2018-2019, compared to the national average of 21 percent reported by the National Center for Education Statistics.
- Our student organizations have won awards from Questbridge and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
- One of 10 engineering schools participating in the Clark Scholars Program established by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to provide academic and financial opportunities for outstanding students from diverse backgrounds.
Our Programs
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Summer Bridge Program
Summer Bridge is a free, three-week summer program to introduce first-year students to Grounds and the many opportunities and resources available to UVA Engineering students
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Clark Scholars
The A. James Clark Scholars Program at the University of Virginia provides unique educational and financial opportunities to exceptional students from populations traditionally underserved in STEM fields, such as women, racial and ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, first-generation college students and students from rural or densely urban areas.
Upcoming Events
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Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PMLocation: Darden Courtyard; Thornton Hall; RIce Hall; Small Hall; Jesser Hall; Wilsdorf Hall
