The University of Toledo

History

During the fall of 2006, The University of Toledo (UT) hired The Kaleidoscope Group L.L.C. to conduct a diversity/inclusion assessment of the Main Campus.  In conjunction with the UT Diversity Commission, the resulting audit report recommended that UT “formally announce and identify the Responsible Department for Diversity Efforts.”  The Diversity Commission further recommended that “the appropriate department and or personnel be identified for the management of all diversity efforts on [the main] campus.”

The President’s Council on Diversity, officially created in the spring of 2008, formed a subcommittee to review these recommendations and develop action plans for submission to and review by Dr. Lloyd A. Jacobs, President of UT.  Realizing the importance of these initiatives, the subcommittee wanted to propose that the individual leading these efforts for UT should be at the Vice President level with a direct reporting line to the President.  In January of 2009, Vice President of External Relations Mr. Lawrence J. Burns was also appointed by Dr. Jacobs as the Interim Vice President of Equity and Diversity.  To help support the efforts, Mr. Burns appointed Dr. Shanda Gore to lead a new diversity team.  In August 2009,  Dr. Gore created the Office of Equity and Diversity (now the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Engagement [OEDC])

Today, the OEDC serves as the point office for diversity efforts across all UT campuses.  The office is responsible for the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women, the UT Minority Business Development Center, the UT Culture Climate Survey, the Culture Building Institute, UT Diversity Trainings and Workshops, Minority Business/EDGE Supplier Program, and the lead support for the MLK Unity Day Celebration and groups including the President’s Council on Diversity, the UT Culture Ambassadors, the President’s Lecture Series on Diversity, and the President’s Committee for African American Recruitment, Retention, and Scholarship Support in the Health Sciences. 

The OEDC is poised to meet the needs of the ever changing, diverse culture of UT.  The OEDC staff will continue their mission through collaboration and work with both UT and community partner members.  

Recognition and Grants

The OEDC was awarded the "Understanding Islam: Its Voices, Its Culture, Its Practices" grant by the Toledo Community Foundation in December 2012. Please click here for more information.

On October 28, 2011 The University of Toledo's Office of Equity, Diversity & Community Engagement was awarded the Bronze Award for the "Best Diversity Program" in the Case V Awards Program. The Pride of Case V Awards Program honors institutions and individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the concept and execution of advancement programs and communications.