Council for Diversity and Inclusion

Mission and Purpose

The Council for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) was formed to bring together faculty, staff, and students to recommend actions to improve the teaching, learning, and working environment of the school from a diversity and inclusion perspective. Following the InclusiveVTC Task Force report of 2021, the CDI has been tasked with ensuring the continued progression of diversity and inclusion efforts throughout the school and in the community. The CDI will serve as the bridge between stakeholders providing feedback from the learning, teaching, and working environments to the leadership team thereby informing the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s strategy and operations for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goals

1. To ensure that initiatives centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion are integrated into the daily functioning at every level of the organization
2. To advocate policies that support an inclusive learning, teaching, and working environment
3. To advocate for and support increased student, faculty, and staff diversity
4. To advocate for increased diversity in research at all stages
5. To create a welcoming environment which celebrates diversity and fosters an inclusive environment at the school
6. To recommend action predominantly within the school, in collaboration with the Community and Diversity Advisory Board
7. To establish and implement metrics for measuring the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives

Membership

The council membership is composed of interested Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty, staff, and students. The dean and the associate dean for community and culture periodically review the council’s membership composition and select Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty, staff, and students for appointment.

Members are expected to serve a minimum of a one-year term, with no maximum limit. Council members are appointed by the dean and the associate dean for community and culture. Current members may also nominate other Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty, staff, and students for membership.