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Message of Welcome

Welcome to the University of Connecticut’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice page!  This site will serve as the University’s central hub for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) information and initiatives.  It will provide resources, opportunities for engagement, and celebrations of the many diverse communities who call UConn “home.”

UConn is committed to diversity, a crucial part of the University's mission.  We also believe that diversity makes our campuses better places to learn and work and positions UConn as a state, regional, and local leader in education, research, and outreach.  Quite simply, we believe that the diversity of our communities makes UConn stronger.

The important transformational work related to DEIJ will only be successful if the University has buy-in and input from our entire community; no singular department or unit can do this work on its own.  This website provides an entry point for every member of the UConn community – whether a student, alumni, staff, faculty, or a member of the surrounding communities, we invite you to join in this important work with us.  Together, we can improve the UConn experience for every member of our community.

Mission Statement

The University of Connecticut is committed to building a safe and inclusive community for all its members through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Under the guidance of the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Frank Tuitt, we as members of the UConn community aim to listen, reflect, learn, and act to make our community safe and a place of belonging for all. We aim to support diversity, equity, and inclusion through offering support for success for people of all backgrounds.

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the territory of the Eastern Pequot, Golden Hill Paugussett, Lenape, Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan, Nipmuc and Schaghticoke Peoples who have stewarded this land throughout the generations. We thank them for their strength and resilience in protecting this land, and aspire to uphold our responsibilities according to their example.

Pronunciations: Eastern Pequot (Pea-kwaht); Golden Hill Paugussett (paw-GUS-it); Lenape (Leh-NAH-pay); Mashantucket Pequot (Mash-un-tuck-it Pea-kwaht);  Mohegan (Mo-he-gan); Nipmuc (Nip-muck); Schaghticoke (ska-teh-COKE)

Upcoming Events

  1. Mar 19 Let’s Talk with Michelle Chen 1:00pm
  2. Mar 19 Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated (MSU): Sophisticated Signing w/ the Zetas 5:00pm
  3. Mar 19 Central American Student Association (CASA) General Body Meeting 7:00pm
  4. Mar 20 Wellness Hour with Elisa 1:00pm

UConn Today

Statements

March 2024 Heritage Celebrations

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of March: Heritage Month Celebrations: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: The United States has observed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month every March since 1987. Led […]

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ODI’s MLK Day 2024 Message

To the UConn Community: Today, we here at UConn observe Martin Luther King. Jr Day, a day set aside for commemorating and reflecting on the life and legacy of Dr. King. This year, in particular, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion has been reflecting upon the meaning of thriving together in challenging times, and in […]

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January 2024 Heritage Celebrations

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of January: Federal and Cultural Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1): This day for celebrating new beginnings was first marked as a federal […]

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Religious Holidays: 

- Lent (February 14 – March 28 in Western Churches, March 18 – May 4 in Eastern Orthodox Churches): In Christianity, Lent is a liturgical season prior to Easter. Lent is celebrated by members of Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Generally, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. 

- Purim (March 23 – March 24): Purim is a joyous and merry holiday that celebrates the strength, resilience, and survival of the Jewish people. Specifically, it commemorates the deliverance of Jews in ancient Persia from a planned act of genocide ordered by the Persian king’s Prime Minister, a plot that was foiled by Queen Esther. The major theme of this holiday is overcoming baseless hatred against the Jewish people.

- Holi (March 25): Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating the end of winter and the triumph of love over evil. Originating in India and Nepal, Holi is celebrated globally. Also known as the “Festival of Colors,” the “Festival of Love” and the “Festival of New Beginnings,” Holi is seen as a new beginning. It is typically celebrated with two days of festivals. The first consists of a bonfire to symbolically burn away all the bad and the second consists of throwing powder dye into the air, covering all in attendance with vibrant colors. 

- Ramadan (March 10 – April 9): A holy month for Muslims that is used for spiritual reflection and growth, for helping those in need, and spending time with loved ones. Ramadan is a moveable holiday, beginning and ending with the crescent moon during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world typically observe a fast during daylight hours. UConn Dining will have specially prepared meals and will set up a station for students to collect those meals after sundown. Both South and Towers Dining Halls will be open late for Iftar.

Religious Holidays:

- Lent (February 14 – March 28 in Western Churches, March 18 – May 4 in Eastern Orthodox Churches): In Christianity, Lent is a liturgical season prior to Easter. Lent is celebrated by members of Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Generally, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

- Purim (March 23 – March 24): Purim is a joyous and merry holiday that celebrates the strength, resilience, and survival of the Jewish people. Specifically, it commemorates the deliverance of Jews in ancient Persia from a planned act of genocide ordered by the Persian king’s Prime Minister, a plot that was foiled by Queen Esther. The major theme of this holiday is overcoming baseless hatred against the Jewish people.

- Holi (March 25): Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating the end of winter and the triumph of love over evil. Originating in India and Nepal, Holi is celebrated globally. Also known as the “Festival of Colors,” the “Festival of Love” and the “Festival of New Beginnings,” Holi is seen as a new beginning. It is typically celebrated with two days of festivals. The first consists of a bonfire to symbolically burn away all the bad and the second consists of throwing powder dye into the air, covering all in attendance with vibrant colors.

- Ramadan (March 10 – April 9): A holy month for Muslims that is used for spiritual reflection and growth, for helping those in need, and spending time with loved ones. Ramadan is a moveable holiday, beginning and ending with the crescent moon during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world typically observe a fast during daylight hours. UConn Dining will have specially prepared meals and will set up a station for students to collect those meals after sundown. Both South and Towers Dining Halls will be open late for Iftar.
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Cultural and Federal Holidays: 

- International Women’s Day (March 8): International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrating Women’s rights. It celebrates women’s achievements, recognizes the challenges women face, and brings attention to ongoing issues related to gender equity, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse faced by women. The theme for 2024’s International Women’s Day is #InvestinWomen, which recognizes that (as UN Women puts it) “ensuring women’s and girls’ rights across all aspects of life is the only way to secure prosperous and just economies, and a healthy planet for future generations.” To learn more about this year’s theme, read more here. 

- Nowruz | Iranian New Year | Persian New Year (March 19 – March 20) Nowruz celebrates the beginning of the new year on the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar. It begins on the spring equinox (usually on or around March 20th), which marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Nowruz has been a day of great celebration throughout Iranian history; it is mankind’s oldest known holiday and is still celebrated by more than 300 million people around the world. It celebrates the triumph of hope over despair and promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families. 

- St. Patrick’s Day (March 17): This cultural and religious holiday is held annually on the traditional death date of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Ireland for a thousand years but has been celebrated by American parades since 1737. The largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held in New York each year.

Cultural and Federal Holidays:

- International Women’s Day (March 8): International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrating Women’s rights. It celebrates women’s achievements, recognizes the challenges women face, and brings attention to ongoing issues related to gender equity, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse faced by women. The theme for 2024’s International Women’s Day is #InvestinWomen, which recognizes that (as UN Women puts it) “ensuring women’s and girls’ rights across all aspects of life is the only way to secure prosperous and just economies, and a healthy planet for future generations.” To learn more about this year’s theme, read more here.

- Nowruz | Iranian New Year | Persian New Year (March 19 – March 20) Nowruz celebrates the beginning of the new year on the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar. It begins on the spring equinox (usually on or around March 20th), which marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Nowruz has been a day of great celebration throughout Iranian history; it is mankind’s oldest known holiday and is still celebrated by more than 300 million people around the world. It celebrates the triumph of hope over despair and promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families.

- St. Patrick’s Day (March 17): This cultural and religious holiday is held annually on the traditional death date of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Ireland for a thousand years but has been celebrated by American parades since 1737. The largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held in New York each year.
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The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of March: 

Heritage Month Celebrations: 

- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March): The United States has observed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month every March since 1987. Led by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), this month raises awareness about people who have disabilities that cause an impairment in language, learning, physical body, or behavior. 

- Greek American Heritage Month (March): Also known as Hellenic Heritage Month, Greek American Heritage Month takes place in March to coincide with Greek Independence Day on March 25th. This day celebrates the contributions of Greeks and Greek Americans, and honors Greek language and culture. 

- Irish American Heritage Month (March): Irish American Heritage Month honors the achievements of Irish immigrants and their descendants in the United States. First celebrated in 1991, it is accompanied by a proclamation from the President of the United States. Irish American Heritage Month is held in March to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. 

- Women’s History Month (March): Thanks to the efforts of the National Women’s History Alliance, March is recognized as Women’s History Month. First Celebrated as Women’s History week in 1981, Congress expanded the celebration in 1987 to celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and to recognize specific achievements women have made throughout American history. The theme for 2024’s Women’s History Month is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of March:

Heritage Month Celebrations:

- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March): The United States has observed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month every March since 1987. Led by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), this month raises awareness about people who have disabilities that cause an impairment in language, learning, physical body, or behavior.

- Greek American Heritage Month (March): Also known as Hellenic Heritage Month, Greek American Heritage Month takes place in March to coincide with Greek Independence Day on March 25th. This day celebrates the contributions of Greeks and Greek Americans, and honors Greek language and culture.

- Irish American Heritage Month (March): Irish American Heritage Month honors the achievements of Irish immigrants and their descendants in the United States. First celebrated in 1991, it is accompanied by a proclamation from the President of the United States. Irish American Heritage Month is held in March to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day.

- Women’s History Month (March): Thanks to the efforts of the National Women’s History Alliance, March is recognized as Women’s History Month. First Celebrated as Women’s History week in 1981, Congress expanded the celebration in 1987 to celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and to recognize specific achievements women have made throughout American history. The theme for 2024’s Women’s History Month is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”
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