Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Building an inclusive Herzing Community
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion works to create a diverse, inclusive and excellent learning and work environment for the entire Herzing University community.
As educators, students, and families, we believe that:
- A transformative educational experience acknowledges and develops the diversity of identities and experiences that individuals and communities bring to institutions
- Individuals and communities are the agents of change in our institution
- Educational institutions must be reflective, allow for critical examination and be continuously reworked to best meet the needs of the communities and individuals they serve.
Who We Are
Herzing’s commitment to building and strengthening a university-wide culture of unity led to the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As part of the Office of the President, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion provides expert consultation, resources and innovative strategies to help guide the University—and its uniquely global and diverse student, faculty, staff, administration and alumni communities—toward a more inclusive future.
At Herzing, we cultivate in our educators and school:
- The collection of data that examines our practices and programs.
- The willingness to listen to community members’ observations and critiques with openness and consideration.
- The willingness to reflect on our university systems, policies and procedures; question whom they serve and how well they serve the groups they are designed to serve; and revise policies and procedures if necessary.
- A commitment to the use and function of the building as a physical space recognizes, celebrates and honors human beings, both past and present, who represent a multitude of identity markers in order to provide potent symbols that align with our university’s values and show support to our community.
- A commitment to use our diversity, equity and inclusion lens to make decisions regarding the investment of resources.
- A commitment to transparency and integrity in our work, with a clear sense of who we must serve in the work that we do.
- The awareness that, although we strive for our institution to be safe and inclusive, other systems exist in the world and can infiltrate the work we are trying to do and impede its success. In other words, the awareness that progress requires a combination of urgency, questioning, challenge, patience and strategy, especially as we work toward actualizing our vision.