The Office of Community and Culture ensures the university upholds its core value of inclusive excellence by furthering diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice initiatives for students, faculty, and staff. The Community and Culture team provides training, workshops, cohort experiences, consulting, and other resources related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and overall inclusive excellence. The Community and Culture unit includes the Center for Social Justice Dialogue and the Women, Gender, and Equity Center (formally known as the Women’s Center), both of which support campus-wide equity and belonging initiatives through dialogue, campus groups, and targeted programming.
We serve Retriever students, faculty, and staff and work with all campus constituencies to make sure their voices are heard and reflected in holistic programming efforts. Unifying a diverse array of existing and new positions and offices allows UMBC to send a clear message to current and future Retrievers: At UMBC, you are valued as a whole person.
How can the Community & Culture Team support you?
Experience, Education & Development
We support campus growth and development by advancing belonging and inclusion through workshops, educational experiences, dialogue training, and campus initiatives. We cover topics like fostering microaffirmations, bias education, inclusive leadership, cross-cultural mentoring and more.
Restorative Practices
We support faculty and staff in navigating identity-based concerns by providing guidance, resources, and restorative practice-based approaches that foster equity, accountability, and belonging. We provide facilitated circles, restorative facilitation (retreats, meetings, etc.), and Restorative Conferences.
Inclusive Excellence Training, Coaching & Consulting
We support faculty and staff in navigating departmental climate issues through individualized coaching and consultation, including departmental equity reviews, campus climate study administration, etc. We provide Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessments, identity-based supervision, and restorative practices coaching.
Equity Centers
The Women’s Gender & Equity Center and the Center for Social Justice Dialogue provide programming, advocacy, and learning opportunities focused on identity, community, and belonging. Both centers cultivate opportunities that serve students, staff and faculty.
Need something more specific?
The Office of Community & Culture, in partnership with campus and community partners, invites faculty and staff to engage with professional development opportunities designed to foster equity, belonging, and inclusive excellence across our campus community.