A Note from the CDEIO

The first year of our college’s formal commitment to promoting inclusive excellence brought with it many important achievements, celebrations, acknowledgements and helpful programs.  

I encourage you to explore the college’s DEI website where you can find more information on the various events and read several DEI news, updates and stories.

As we turn the page on our first year of inclusive excellence, I want to take time to thank members of NOVA’s DEI Council, members of NOVA’s DEI Campus Committees, the hard working staff in the Office of DEI, members of the NOVA DEI Student Council and various clubs and all the faculty, staff and students who played a role in ensuring that we are fostering diversity and inclusivity on our campuses and within our academic programs. 

The college’s Inclusive Excellence DEI Strategic Plan is available for your review. Responsible units will provide progress reports to the CDEIO about the various actions outlined in the plan by May 31, 2022. The Office of DEI will provide an overall Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan Progress Update in August.

Truly, an equitable and inclusive community is essential to creating opportunity and helping students achieve excellence and success. We should all be proud of all the ways we worked to bring our diverse community closer together this year. From Student Success & Equity Data Summits, to DEI Spotlight Events we have all learned so much. From our helpful HR Search Advocate Program to the acquisition of a 1.4 million dollar AANAPISI Grant, we are already starting to make a difference!  From TRHT NOVA Healing Circles focused on conversation, listening and understanding others to DEI Innovation grant projects sponsored by the NOVA Foundation, we are building connections and finding new ways to advance inclusive excellence.  

The Office of DEI looks forward to offering additional programming next year and working with you to maintain our progression to support diversity, advance inclusive excellence and help all students, faculty and staff feel like they belong and are welcomed at NOVA.  

We are in no way done with our DEI work; there is much more to do. If you have ideas or comments about next steps we welcome you to the table to discuss and connect. Please reach out to staff in the Office of DEI so we can grow stronger together. 

Thank you for your diligent work and commitment to inclusive excellence in our first year. 

Submitted by:
Nathan Carter, CDEIO, NACarter@nvcc.edu