Equity Advocates (EAs) are volunteers (faculty and staff) who support the University’s inclusive efforts by providing education and support regarding equal opportunity and cultural diversity. Serving as an EA requires successful completion of EA educational programming through the University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion.
Purpose of EAs: To ensure fair and equitable treatment of all candidates in a given process.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide education on how to create an environment that allows for differences to be discussed in a healthy manner.
- Provide information that helps to reduce bias in thinking, decision making, and behavior.
- Support and monitor the activities of the committee to help ensure that preconceived notions and stereotypical biases do not appear in any step of a given process.
- Ensure that no decision is based upon gender, religion, creed, race, age, physical disability, or any other protected class.
- Ensure that any and all personal concerns by any committee member regarding personal biases and prejudices are addressed properly.
- Ensure that all institutional policies and procedures regarding diversity and inclusion are upheld each step of the process.
What happens when an issue comes up with a committee’s process? Any concerns of inequality or bias are first addressed at the committee level. If the concerns are not resolved within the committee, EAs may consult with the Vice President of Inclusive Excellence.
Expansion of Equity Advocate Education
EA educational programming is currently available to all full-time employees, regardless of their intent to serve as an EA.
Additional Information:
oei@lynchburg.edu
434.544.8540