Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity
By sharing in our similarities and celebrating our differences, we’re preparing students for success in their future careers.
Throughout the history of University of Phoenix, we’ve provided people from all backgrounds with access to quality higher education in an effort to help improve their lives. We not only recognize the diversity of our students, staff and faculty – we embrace it. We honor the differences of our University community – no matter their race and ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, ability or religion.
We’re committed to a community of awareness, acceptance and inclusion.
It’s who we are.
The Office of Educational Equity works to promote cultural understanding, provide thought leadership, and develop community partnerships to provide professional development, support students, alumni, faculty and staff and foster a sense of belonging for all.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion actively collaborates with partners across University of Phoenix and within the community to promote and sustain diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Educational Equity Webinar series
This series creates a space to have crucial conversations, promote cultural understanding and provide thought leadership. Together we’ll discuss how issues relating to equity and inclusion show up in the classroom, workplace and our communities such as:
- Fostering Unity while Addressing Inequities
- "Where’s my privilege?” Future challenges for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Storytelling as an Anti-Racist Tool to Create Community
- Code Switching
- LatinX Leadership: How to Employ, Engage and Elevate Talent Across Generations, Cultures and Differences
To access prior webinar recordings, visit our video library: Educational Equity Webinar Series.
Webinars are held on the third Thursday of every month. For more information or to register for upcoming sessions, please email Educational.Equity@phoenix.edu.
Educational Partnerships and Initiatives
The University supports and promotes a diverse society. Since its founding, University of Phoenix has served people from all backgrounds, and particularly those underserved by traditional academia, to provide the educational access necessary to improve their lives. The University’s Office of Educational Equity is dedicated to continuing the success of inclusion and diversity along with opening new doors throughout the communities that the University serves. Areas of focus for this office include providing resources related to student diversity and inclusion, managing Partnerships, Memberships, and Sponsorships with key external stakeholders, and coordinating and providing support for Recognized Student Organizations.
Our partnerships with local and national organizations aid in our efforts to spread awareness and help provide our University and local communities with additional support. The University takes an active and engaged approach in collaborating with its partners.
In partnership with the Diversity Leadership Alliance, the University contributes to and supports their monthly workshops and annual conference to further educate students, alumni and the general public on matters that impact our University and society today.
We partner with the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with ongoing support throughout the year in addition to contributing expertise and research for in their annual DATOS: The State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market publication examining data on a broad range of Socioeconomic and systemic matters that impact Arizona’s economy.
Educational Equity Publications
The Office of Educational Equity also helps to foster a climate of respect by presenting Webinars and Training Events to University staff and faculty, hosting and participating in Diversity Events and Conferences in the local community, and publishing diversity-related Articles and Reports. Other efforts in recent years have included the following:
- In January 2020, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey was initiated to assess the experience of students in the classroom from the lens of inclusion, collect data to identify opportunities and challenges to design an effective program, categorize strategic priorities, and gauge the University climate.
- In June 2020, the Office of Educational Equity initiated The Inclusive Café, as a virtual place for staff to gather, connect, and build community through biweekly sessions focused on topics designed to discuss diverse perspectives and generate compassionate conversation.
- In September 2019, the University served as the to the Annual Arizona Multicultural Education Conference and will sponsor their virtual conference in March 2021. This conference brings together educators, pre-service education majors, consultants, and community residents to join forces in “fostering the idea and expressing the fundamental purpose of multicultural education as a means to provide teaching and learning that is based on democratic values that affirm cultural pluralism within culturally diverse societies.”
Office of Educational Equity Publications
- Moving Beyond Conversations to Address Systemic Inequities: Actions speak louder than words where it comes to diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace. | In Business Magazine
- Are you overlooking disability in your diversity and inclusion plan? | Phoenix News
- Diversity matters, so make it a matter of business when going remote. | Phoenix News
- Actions speak louder than words when it comes to diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace. | Phoenix News
- Cultivating a Sense of Belonging. Phoenix Scholar, College of Doctoral Studies Periodical for Research and Scholarship, 3(2), 9–11.
- National Society of Leadership and Success offers UOPX students leadership training and resources. | PhoenixNews
Office of Educational Equity External Presentations & Conferences
Goff, R., Mendoza, O., Lopez, S., & Quinones, A. (2020, September 30). Somos Fenix-We are Phoenix: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, a Panel of Hispanic and LatinX Leaders Share their Journey (J. Ramirez, Interviewer) [Interview]. In La Fuerza Employee Resource Group.
Lopez, S., Dowdy, C., Underwood, K., & Villalobos, M. (2020, October 8). The Role Higher Education can Play in Developing Inclusive Student Bodies (S. Boone, Interviewer) [Interview]. In Essential Conversations in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Lopez, S. E., & Richardson, T. D. (2020, November 5). Creating a Vibrant Equity and Inclusion Community In the Midst of COVID-19 [WebEx]. Mile High Society for Human Resource Management.
Lopez, S., Savron, D., Phillips, T., & Phelps, R. (2020, November 20). Transformational Growth (K. Griffin, Interviewer) [Interview]. In The Bounce Factor: A Fireside Chat.
Price Noble, K. (2020, October 5). Addressing cultural competence and stereotypes within our society (S. Lopez, Interviewer) [Interview]. In Essential Conversations in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Richardson, T. D. (2020a, March 30). Staying Connected during a Season of Social Distancing [Women’s Rising Employee Resource Group].
Richardson, T. D. (2020b, December 16). Awakening Compassion at Work. LinkedIn Live Learning.
Singh, D. (2020, October 29). Co-Conspiracy for Social Justice (T. Richardson, Interviewer) [Interview]. In Diversity Leadership Alliance Conference: Uncomfortable Conversations that Ignite Change.
Diversity & Inclusion Resources
