Campus Culture and Engagement
The University of Delaware thrives in a culture of connection, fueled by the knowledge and perspectives of a diverse range of people from all cultures, identities and life experiences.
Dear UD Community,
At the University of Delaware, we are deeply committed to a campus community that reflects the rich and complex diversity of human experience and that embraces possibilities for all. Each person brings a unique identity and perspective that enriches our dynamic campus culture in a way that emboldens all Blue Hens to thrive.
These values are bedrock foundational principles that have long guided UD’s mission of education, research and service to others. And our commitment to these values should involve constant inquiry through thoughtful reflection, research and respectful dialogue in order to evolve and improve how they are lived out each and every day.
You may have arrived at this webpage by way of another search related to the topic of our UD campus life and community. This webpage represents our commitment to a collective campus-wide effort to ensure that our shared values are reflected in our language, programs and inclusive practices in a cohesive and comprehensive way for the long term.
This important work starts with an examination of how we currently operationalize our values around diversity in accordance with applicable law. Visit our updates page for more information about the evolving federal actions. There is much that will not change, and we uphold here the principles of academic freedom and the important role of faculty governance pertaining to the curriculum.
Beginning in the summer and through the fall of 2025, we will be connecting with students, faculty, staff and alumni to reimagine and build a more unified and supportive UD culture. There will be opportunities to join conversations about enhancing the resources, services and campus experiences that make UD a place where everyone feels welcomed, included and empowered to succeed.
In the meantime, please explore this dynamic page, which will be updated periodically. We welcome your feedback and engagement; this will serve as a place to learn more, access resources, and share ideas.
We hope you will get involved, share your perspective and join us as we chart a new path together. We look forward to working with you.
Laura Carlson
Provost
José-Luis Riera
Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The University of Delaware is committed to advancing campus culture and engagement through an ongoing, thoughtful and community-wide conversation and planning process. We continue to unequivocally affirm our commitment to our values and their centrality to our mission. Importantly, we will preserve key student-facing programs and spaces, leverage financial aid programs for low- and limited-income students to ensure access to UD’s educational opportunities, and support the academic needs of all students.
This initiative will be guided by four key principles:
- We will continue to foster a sense of community and belonging for all, reflecting our commitment that every member of the UD community can contribute to our shared pursuit of truth.
- We will continue to celebrate UD’s rich and growing diversity of cultures, backgrounds and identities.
- We will ensure that our entire campus community continues to be enriched by the robust debate that emerges through the open and respectful exchange of disparate viewpoints.
- We will continue to uphold the principles of academic freedom and faculty governance pertaining to UD’s educational curriculum.
OUR ROADMAP FORWARD
Community dialogues are planned for fall 2025 to re-examine how we operationalize our values of diversity and inclusion and to identify strategies for reframing and deepening our work.
Through this phased effort, we will co-create a new framework to be implemented in spring 2026. This framework will:
- Be outcomes-based, system-focused and coalition-driven with a focus on how all may benefit
- Center the University’s drive towards equitable access for students, staff and faculty.
- Ground our work in the law and data.
- Be designed to acknowledge that our campus culture does drive excellence.
Phase 0: Designing an Organizational Realignment | July 2024-Ongoing
Assess and realign organizational structure of campus resources supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Phase 1: Assessing the Current State | February-July 2025
Review existing diversity and inclusion programming to understand the current landscape and identify alignment with applicable institutional values and federal requirements.
Phase 2: Creating a Process | June-September 2025
Gather key constituents, faculty, staff and student leaders to obtain input for designing a community-centric process that will enable data collection and analysis to yield a new framework. During this phase, a task force led by José-Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer, and John Ernest, Chair, Department of English and Judge Hugh M. Morris Professor will also be launched, which will guide the work throughout.
Phase 3: Developing the Framework | September-December 2025
Gather community input, leadership vision, and benchmarking of best practices. The task force will ultimately synthesize all of that material and vet a framework for the campus community.
Phase 4: Implementing a New Framework | January 2026
Implement our new campus framework to advance UD’s values of diversity and inclusion.
Phase 5: Monitoring for Continuous Improvement | 2026 and Beyond
Measure and assess framework, with key focus on demonstrable outcomes and success for all UD campus culture and engagement initiatives.
We invite you to contribute to these ongoing efforts by sharing your interest in participating and offering your valuable insights, ideas and questions. Your input will help shape our future initiatives and ensure a more inclusive environment for all.
Updates
This page will be updated with opportunities for community participation and announcements about progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many ways for institutions of higher education to address and activate values for diversity, inclusion, social justice and equity. Through the campus culture and engagement effort, UD will seek to come together as a community and examine the new frameworks emerging in the literature to accomplish this work. The result we are seeking is a framework rooted in outcomes, aligned with state and federal law, informed by data and easily understood and accessed by all within the UD community.
Some examples of new frameworks that the task force will examine include:
The University remains committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment while remaining in compliance with current law. We will continue to monitor any legal developments closely while upholding our values and supporting our Blue Hen community.
The University will look at programs, resources, events, groups and other initiatives that are related to diversity issues at UD. These may be strengthened, consolidated, reimagined or discontinued, based on how they align with the guiding principles above and any relevant legal requirements.
UD has a longstanding commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion. At this time, we are taking a closer look to ensure the way in which we live those values out every day is strong and effective while remaining compliant with all applicable laws.
No. The University of Delaware will always be committed to building and strengthening a diverse community where everyone feels welcome and included in our mission.
No, there is no change in position on curricula or academic freedom. We continue to encourage open discussion in the classroom and foster a respectful learning environment for all students and viewpoints.
The U.S. Department of Education recently issued a letter and accompanying FAQs to guide university responsibilities in fostering an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment for all students. At the University of Delaware, we are committed to these principles. The University of Delaware encourages open discussion in the classroom, fosters a respectful learning environment for all students and viewpoints, and values academic freedom. Academic freedom means that faculty are free to engage in forms of inquiry and teaching that are professionally competent and ethical, and collectively responsible. Both within and outside the classroom, members of the faculty should exhibit the accuracy, restraint, and tolerance for the opinions and ideas of others appropriate to educators and persons of learning. Members of the University community are encouraged to exercise their right to free speech and freedom of expression as private citizens outside of the classroom.
When “program” is used in the context of campus culture and engagement initiatives, it refers to co-curricular and extracurricular activities sponsored by academic and non-academic units at the University. These efforts are not intended to restrict or regulate curriculum development, academic materials, topics, or discussions within the classroom. UD may offer classes that focus on race, sex/gender, and related social justice issues. Course content addressing historical or contemporary inequities remains appropriate and valuable.
Yes, log in to access our assessment tool.
The tool is designed to help units and leaders across the University evaluate whether a program, activity, initiative, scholarship, or similar reflects our values and complies with applicable federal civil rights protections. It is intended for broad use, including, but not limited to, review of:
Institutional initiatives and events
Registered student organizations and other recognized groups
Fellowships, grants, endowments, and institutional funds
Scholarships and awards
Department-sponsored programs, activities, and ceremonies
Partnerships, contracts, collaborations, and sponsorships involving external entities
Limitations: This tool is not intended for use in reviewing curriculum or class offerings, undergraduate or graduate admissions, financial aid, student housing, or employment matters (such as recruitment, hiring, or promotion), as those areas may be subject to additional requirements and processes.
Using the tool does not constitute institutional, departmental, or legal approval of a program, scholarship, event, initiative, or similar activity. It is one step in a broader review and approval process that would normally be followed under University policy.
Led by Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer José-Luis Riera and Department of English Chair and Judge Hugh M. Morris Professor John Ernest, the task force will represent a wide range of voices at UD, including students, staff and faculty.
The design of the process will be a focus of the summer months. The task force will be expected to seek a wide range of input from University stakeholders and constituents, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni.
More information about events and other opportunities will be available as they are scheduled, both on this webpage and on UDaily. Everyone’s participation is encouraged. If you have ideas, suggestions, research or helpful examples of other institutions that are undertaking this work, or you would like to take a more active role in this process, you can share your information via the form.
Impacts to research activities are ongoing and can change rapidly. The Research Office communicates with researchers as information becomes available from federal agencies. The University will provide updates to the research community as further guidance develops. Researchers with questions about their specific awards and funding should contact the Research Office for guidance.
The University has adopted a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy to respond to recent federal policy changes and safeguard its operations:
Federal Engagement: We have been working closely with our Delaware federal delegation to convey institutional impacts of federal policy changes and to empower them to help safeguard the University. Those efforts have focused on highlighting the importance of protecting federal programs that benefit our students, faculty, and broader mission, particularly those that support innovation, scientific research, and public service.
Collaboration with the State of Delaware: We have maintained regular communication with the State of Delaware, particularly the Attorney General’s Office, to stay informed and aligned on how federal actions may affect the University and its communities.
Engagement with National Organizations: The University continues to actively collaborate with professional organizations such as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation (EIF), and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR). UD has been involved in developing and coordinating on responses to federal developments. This engagement has also supported advocacy efforts.
Internal Support Strategies: The University is actively working with faculty to support those who are affected by reductions in federal funding. We are helping them pursue alternative funding sources such as philanthropic development, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships. In some cases, we will be providing bridge funding to support students and sustain research continuity.
Scenario Planning: The University has been conducting scenario planning to ensure operational resilience and continuity under a range of potential policy and funding environments.
- Communication with the Community: We are committed to keeping the UD community informed. This has included the development of dedicated web pages that track and explain federal actions and their implications for the institution. More information can be found at UD’s Federal Actions Updates webpage, as well as our Agency Updates and Guidance website pertaining to the UD Research Office.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
UD’s Statement of Values
Among UD’s institutional values: “We welcome and value different backgrounds, perspectives and learning experiences; this is essential for educating global citizens, developing knowledge and advancing and enhancing our world.” Read the full statement of values.
Office of Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Equity and Inclusion handles concerns about the work and learning environment, including Title VII, Title IX, Civil Rights Act, sexual misconduct and other compliance issues.
Federal Actions Updates
The University of Delaware is tracking executive orders from the president of the United States and other federal administrative actions for relevant developments and potential impacts on UD and, more generally, on higher education. Information is updated as needed on the Federal Actions Update webpage.