Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The College of Media has a number of initiatives to create and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 

Contacts in the College of Media

Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Jason P. Chambers, Professor of Advertising

College of Media Diversity Committee
This is an eight-member group of faculty, staff, and students, including the Associate Dean for DEI. They are charged to maintain familiarity with campuswide diversity and anti-discrimination initiatives as well as those within other colleges on campus and advise the Dean which ones might be applied, amplified, and/or adapted for the College of Media. They coordinate workshops/trainings designed for the College of Media that engage with diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. They also actively promote the range of faculty teaching and research and student activity that foregrounds diversity in all of its multiple forms including, but not limited to: diversity of worldviews, histories, and cultural knowledge across a range of social groups including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, abilities, economic class, religion, and their intersections. 

Ongoing Initiatives

  • The Alumni Mentoring Program connects students with accomplished alumni to share perspectives and advice. The pilot focused on Black students and alumni, and then expanded to Latinx students and alumni. Learn more.
  • The New Voices Internship Program provides opportunities for first-generation students and those from underrepresented groups to work with College of Media faculty and staff on communications projects. Learn more.
  • DEI workshops on diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism that are relevant to Media faculty, students, and staff, are offered throughout the year, such as "Equity-Mindedness in the College of Media," "Rethinking the Student Experience for Inclusion," and "Tools for Creating Accessible Classrooms and Events for Individuals with Disabilities."

Media Underrepresented Scholarship Fund

The College of Media continues to prioritize scholarship support to recruit and retain an excellent and diverse student body. Our Media Underrepresented Scholarship Fund enables the college to establish a yearly scholarship for students from underrepresented groups. By contributing to this fund, you can help us expand our capacity to support students. 

University of Illinois Nondiscrimination Statement

As stated by the University of Illinois Office for Access and Equity:

The commitment of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. This policy is designed to promote a safe and healthy learning and work environment and to comply with multiple laws that prohibit discrimination, including: Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Act, the Vietnam-Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and the Illinois Human Rights Act. This policy and the associated procedures are established to provide a means to address complaints of discrimination or harassment based on the protected categories described herein.

It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, arrest record status, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a protected veteran and to comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.

For more information, please see the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website at https://diversity.illinois.edu.