Top 50 Companies

University of Alabama

Rank NO:

49

CEO:

Finis St. John IV

CDE:

Dr. G Christine Taylor

SITE:

At the University of Alabama (UA) leaders understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical to the institution’s success. To maintain accountability the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion created a Path Forward Plan (for which they provide annual progress updates) that includes dozens of strategies to help the school achieve their five over-arching diversity and inclusion goals. These goals include the following: developing cultural competencies for faculty, staff and students; creating a more welcoming campus community; recruiting and retaining more diverse faculty and staff; recruiting, retaining and graduating more diverse students; and expanding diversity, equity and inclusion infrastructure. Their strategies to achieve this goal include programs like their first ever Multicultural Visitation Program (MVP) for prospective diverse students. They also hosted OUR BAMA, a multicultural yield event for admitted diverse students and their parents. In addition, the university provided over thirty trainings and workshops for university organizations, departments, committees, and colleges. In the midst of the pandemic, the University unveiled their new Intercultural Diversity Center (IDC). The Center operates as a space where faculty, staff, and students can engage in cultural learning, cultural teaching and cultural sharing. This is only a fraction of the strategies University of Alabama has implemented over the past year, and what they will continue to implement.