Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We are gathered in the ancestral and unceded territory of the O-non-dowa-gah, (pronounced: Oh-n’own-dough-wahgah) or “the people of the Great Hill.” In English, they are known as Seneca people, “the keeper of the western door.” Together, with the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Tuscarora, the Seneca make up the sovereign Haudenosaunee (ho-dee-no-SHO-nee) Confederacy. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, genocide and migration that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events.

DEI Mission: UHS strives to create a safe environment where all are welcome. We strive to create equity in meeting the physical and emotional needs of all of our patients in a culturally responsive way as you negotiate academics, work life, and concerns for your families.

Welcome spring! We are grateful for more sunshine, longer days, and warmer temperatures to follow.

We are about to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event with the Solar Eclipse, in a way a celebration of Earth Month and Nature itself. Please enjoy the festivities and be safe in your observance: How to Safely Watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse – American Academy of Ophthalmology (aao.org).

This month we will see the closure of Ramadan with Eid, the Bahai festival of Ridvan, and the celebration of Passover. This month we also celebrate the diversity of the Arab and Scottish American and persons with autism communities.

There is much to do as the semester winds down. Please take care of yourselves with enough sleep, exercise, and good nutrition to meet your full potential. Also consider April being Community Service Month. Sometimes the best way to help ourselves is to help others.

Be well.

What is UHS doing to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)?

We acknowledge that this important work is a process of ongoing learning and action. We aspire to adopt tangible, sustainable DEI policies and practices that are guided by our mission and rooted in our values of care, respect, and excellence. Below you will find examples of our current work in this area.

For Staff

Regular Trainings and Workshops
- Anti-Racism Training
- Queer-Inclusive University workshop series
- Biases and Microaggressions workshop
- Spirituality and the Muslim Community
- Trauma-Informed Care
DEI Hiring Committee
DEI Advisory Council
Pronoun Tags

Primary Care

Updating language on medical forms and UHS website to be more inclusive of our trans and non-binary patients
Including patient’s pronouns at the top of their electronic medical chart
Discussing gender affirming care and/or hormonal therapy with patients in order to refer them to appropriate resources

University Counseling Center

Providing identity based therapy groups during the academic year (e.g., Queer and Trans, Mosaic)
Offering drop-in groups in response to local, national and world events (e.g., wars, legislation, court cases, racial violence)
Collaborating with Residential Life and Public Safety to provide in person after hours mental heath crisis support for residential students that is not law enforcement

Health Promotion Office

Offering a variety of programming and services to support inclusive health
- LGBTQ+ Resource Fair
- LGBTQ+ Resource Guide
- LGBTQ+ Health webpage
- SafeZone trainings led by an HPO staff member
- Out Breath: Learn-to-meditate workshop for LGBTQ+ individuals*
- Stay Woke and Meditate: Learn-to-meditate workshop for POC*
- Mindful Men of Color*
- Peaceful Warrior: Meditation for Women of Color*
- Mindfulness for Us
- Programming for First-Generation students
- Customized programming for specific populations based on our survey data collection

*Led by our Koru teachers

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Let us know how we can improve and how we can help.

UHS: (585) 275-2662
UCC: (585) 275-3113
Health Promotion Office: (585) 273-5775
Employee Assistance Program: (585) 475-0432