Our goal at The University of Akron is to create a framework for excellence that incorporates diversity at its core while linking the quality of the educational experience.

A misconception about diversity is that it only pertains to certain persons or groups, when in fact it is the exact opposite truth.

Diversity can include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, and sexual orientation.

A diverse workplace aims to create an inclusive culture that values and uses the talents of all its employees.

We require a diversity of problem solvers to solve a large complex problem

A diversity of problem solvers is essential to organizational success

But

If and only if they collaborate

Climate: To foster a campus environment that respects differences while climate encouraging inclusiveness.

Recruitment and Retention: To Increase the recruitment, retention, and representation of people of color, women, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups among students, faculty, administrators, and staff.

Education and Training: To develop and implement a comprehensive system of education and training focused on effectively managing—and leveraging--diversity for the benefit of the students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community.

Communication: To develop and execute a comprehensive University of Akron Inclusive Excellence Communication Plan.

Community Building: To build and strengthen partnerships with diverse communities, businesses (through a strong supplier diversity initiative), and civic organizations for the purpose of supporting diversity and multiculturalism both within the University and in external communities.

At UA we strive for heterogeneous teams (those with wide diversity) which are more difficult to recruit, more difficult to manage, and are more efficient over a wide range of problems.