DEI Campus Resources
Our goal is to help every student thrive at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, but we recognize the unique challenges that many students face. Below are some opportunities and resources available to help our students succeed and to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.
Cultural and Resource Centers
Our campus has cultural and resource centers to serve our diverse community and foster a climate of respect, tolerance, and the free exchange of ideas.
Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center
The mission of Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center is to provide a network of programs and support services promoting the individual, social, cultural and academic well-being of Illinois’ African American students. Opened in fall 1969 in response to calls from students, the African American Cultural Center at Illinois was rededicated in 2004 to former Director Bruce D. Nesbitt, a trailblazer for opportunity and equality who inspired more than two decades of university students. BNAACC continues this work today as a vehicle for self-expression and leadership enhancement for students of African descent through workshops, seminars, and performing arts groups.
Learn more
Asian American Cultural Center
The University of Illinois has one of the largest and most vibrant Asian American university communities in the Midwest, where 1 in 4 students is Asian American or Asian international. The Asian American Cultural Center promotes cross-cultural understanding of Asian American and Asian international experiences and provides educational and cultural support for Asians and Asian Americans in our university community. Opened in fall 2005, the Asian American Cultural Center provides the University of Illinois community with space to gather and share the diverse and rich cultures that are a part of the Asian American experience.
Diversity & Social Justice Education
Diversity & Social Justice Education provides courses, programs, workshops, and professional trainings to prepare Illinois students to work and live in a diverse global society. DiversityEd offers students, faculty, and staff opportunities to build their own capacity to promote critical thinking, compassion, and equity.
Since its founding in 1974, La Casa Cultural Latina has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Latina/o students and the campus community, as well as local and global communities. La Casa reflects the diversity of Latina/o cultures and exemplifies el éxito Latino that shapes the Americas in our contemporary world. The mission of La Casa Cultural Latina is to promote a welcoming and dynamic atmosphere through the development of educational, cultural, socio-political, and social programs that lead to greater recruitment, retention, advancement, and empowerment of Latina/o students.
The mission of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center is to foster an environment that is open, safe, and inclusive for people of all sexualities and gender identities. The Center is a resource not only for the LGBT community but for the entire University community. It exists for anyone who is interested in learning about LGBT people, issues, and concerns. The LGBT Resource Center seeks to help in the efforts to address homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heterosexist attitudes and beliefs on the campus, and to work to make the environment safe and affirming for all students, faculty, staff, and LGBT students, faculty, and staff in particular.
The Native American House serves as a support and resource center for all students, faculty, staff and the community, providing programs and resources that allow people to expand their cultural and academic experiences at the University of Illinois. After nearly 15 years of Native student protests and lobbying efforts, the Native American House opened in 2002 with the mission to build a Native-centered learning community. All students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the many educational, cultural, and social programs tailored about Native American and Indigenous cultures, peoples, and current events.
At the Women’s Resources Center, we aim to support and connect students by linking them with faculty, alumnae, staff, community leaders and other women students through programs, workshops, mentorship, meals, fun activities, and networking events. The Women’s Resources Center was established to empower women and strengthen alliances with men, offer opportunities for all students, including trans and gender non-conforming students, build leadership skills, challenge sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism, and all forms of social oppression, and achieve greater gender equity and cultural diversity. We’re committed to creating community among students, student groups, and the University of Illinois. We’re committed to YOU! All genders are welcome at the Women’s Resources Center!
International Education enhances opportunities for students to engage with cultures from around the world. We promote deeper campus internationalization through supporting the success of international students, enhancing the global competencies of all students, and creating meaningful cultural exchange between international and domestic students.
Campus Offices and Resources
Our campus features a number of offices and resources dedicated to lead our campus toward an increasingly diverse and inclusive community that is open, just, and welcoming for all.
Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations
As part of the Office of Student Affairs, this office connects students with the cultural centers listed below, events and programs, additional resources, and links to report acts of intolerance.
Learn more
Office of Diversity Equity and Access
Serves as a resource to campus units on issues such as accessibility and accommodations, affirmative action, discrimination and harassment prevention, and Title IX.
Provides information, resources, and guidance for undocumented, DACA, and those affected by immigration reform.
Office of Minority Student Affairs
Academic mentoring and programs, tutoring, federal TRIO programs and services.
Graduate College’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Internal and external fellowship support, programs (such as the Sloan University Center of Exemplary Mentoring), summer research opportunities, and more.
Grainger College of Engineering Diversity Programs
The Grainger College of Engineering programs MERGE and SURGE are used to develop a diverse and highly motivated pool of engineers.
Institute for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access (IDEA)
The mission of the IDEA Institute is to support scholarship, innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access at all levels: faculty, staff, students, and K-12 outreach/public engagement. IDEA priorities include:
- Operating the GIANT program to support DEI-related projects, pilot studies, and best practices;
- Collaborating with departments/units to formulate individualized DEI plans that align with college and campus plans;
- Working with faculty to integrate DEI into course materials;
- Working with campus to develop a self-paced DEI certificate course; and
- Applying for external funding to support large DEI efforts.
Title IX
The Title IX Office at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is primarily responsible for coordinating the university’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and related federal and state laws and regulations, in addition to university policies and procedures. This includes providing leadership, oversight, consultation, education, and training to the university community around the topic of Title IX. It also includes helping to ensure that the university responds appropriately and effectively to issues and grievances related to Title IX and related state and federal laws. The Title IX Office is responsible for issues pertaining to: Sexual Misconduct, Athletics, and Pregnant & Parenting.
Title IX Office
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
614 E. Daniel Street, Suite 303
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: titleixcoordinator@illinois.edu
Phone: (844) 616-7978
- Counseling Center
(217) 333-3704 - McKinley Health Center
(217) 333-2705 - Women's Resources Center (Confidential Advisors)
(217) 333-3137 - Rape Advocacy Counseling & Education Services (R.A.C.E.S.)
(217) 384-4444 - Courage Connection (Domestic Violence)
(217) 384-4390
- Champaign, Urbana, or University Police Departments
911 (Emergency)
(217) 333-8911 (Non-Emergency) - Office for Access & Equity
(217) 333-0885 - Student Assistance Center
Office of the Dean of Students
(217) 333-0050 - Office for Student Conflict Resolution
(217) 333-3680
Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services
The mission of the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services is to ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the programs, services, and activities of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through the identification and enactment of reasonable modifications to institutional policies and procedures, the provision of effective auxiliary aids and services, the establishment of innovative educational services, and the pursuit of interdisciplinary disability research.
Academic Accommodations and Support Living Accommodations
Transportation Health Campus Life Athletics
Our campus is a campus a leader in the area of post-secondary education for persons with disabilities. DRES has been associated with many programmatic innovations, including:
- The seminal research that led to the development of the first architectural accessibility standards that would become the American National Standards Institute Standards.
- The first wheelchair-accessible fixed-route bus system.
- The first accessible university residence halls.
- The first university service fraternity and advocacy group comprised of students with disabilities (Delta Sigma Omicron).
- The first collegiate adapted sports and recreation program for students with disabilities, which also produced the first wheelchair athlete in the world to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
While impressive, our work continues toward the mission of DRES to ensure that the nature and degree of access to programs, services, and facilities, and the level of self-determination afforded qualified persons with disabilities are indistinguishable from those which are available to their peers without disabilities.
Mental Health and Wellness
Our campus created a centralized site to connect students, parents/families, faculty, and staff with services for mental health, wellness, access, and accommodation. We strive to provide supportive, judgment-free, and collaborative solutions specific to individuals and groups.