Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
It is a great time to be a member of the OU community. We have just welcomed the largest and most diverse freshman class to campus in OU's history. OU also welcomed nearly 200 new faculty to the Norman campus alone, not including the new faculty on the HSC campus. At OU, you will hear many say that we change lives.
However, if you are new to our campus community, you may wonder what that means. OU is a large university with a diverse landscape stretching across three campuses, located in different cities.
What we, in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, hope you will discover is that OU is a special place with many unique individuals who are committed to seeing students achieve success, faculty leading the research agenda, and staff lending a helping hand to ensure OU is a place where all can succeed. However, success cannot be achieved unless community members step out of their comfort zone, make connections, meet new people and establish a sustainable support system.
As you settle into a routine this semester, we hope you will attend programs, workshops and activities offered by the Division of DEI, actively playing a part in helping to build connections. But there are many other spaces at OU working to create an inclusive community and enhance belonging for all.
For students: we encourage you to connect with registered student organizations and their respective faculty members. Connect with your academic advisor early in the semester and seek research and internship opportunities; choose to volunteer on campus or in the surrounding community; and attend an athletics event.
For faculty and staff: Faculty Senate and Staff Councils are active on all campuses and are here to serve you. The Center for Faculty Excellence is a superb resource for new faculty, and the DEI Division can help you connect with several Employee Resource Groups; central Human Resources provides ongoing workshops and professional development opportunities. These are some of the ways we are working to build a community of care and to increase belonging across the OU campuses.
Getting connected is one of the ways you can help make OU your home away from home. Sharing a bit about you and your journey to OU is another way. DEI wants to connect with you. We invite you to stop by and visit any of our offices located on each campus. Please share your story with our team, and help make OU more accessible for all!
The Division of DEI includes the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), the Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the TRIO Center (Upward Bound, Project Threshold and McNair Scholars programs). We also work in partnership with the Inclusion Council members across all campuses, the Employee Resource Groups and the DEI Advisory Board. Have an amazing fall semester, and remember it is OK to step out of your comfort zone.
Belinda Higgs Hyppolite, Ed.D.
Vice President | Chief Diversity Officer
