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UTSA Office of Inclusive Excellence supports campus affinity groups

UTSA Office of Inclusive Excellence supports campus affinity groups

(July 29, 2019) -- The Office of Inclusive Excellence, which advocates for equity, diversity and inclusivity at UTSA, is now serving as the administrative “home” to faculty and staff affinity groups—voluntary associations of those who have common interests.

“UTSA considers affinity groups to be an important component of the workplace environment at UTSA, connecting various members of the campus community with each other and with the university,” says Myron Anderson, Vice President of Inclusive Excellence. “The Office of Inclusive Excellence is reinforcing these groups by providing accessibility, organizational and structural support, along with resources.”

An important part of the mission of an affinity group is to enhance campus climate. Currently, there are eight faculty/staff affinity groups on campus:

  • Association of Chinese Professors
  • Black Faculty and Staff Association
  • Faculty Parents Network
  • First-Gen Faculty
  • International Faculty
  • La Raza and Administrators Association
  • LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Association
  • Women’s Professional Development and Synergy Academy (WPASA)

Anderson hopes that the administrative support and increased promotion of affinity groups provided through his office will increase faculty/staff engagement and encourage the formation of additional groups.  

“We are here to help support any employees who are looking to start a new affinity group. These groups play a vital role in promoting a sense of belonging and providing a community for our employees,” says Anderson. “Specifically, they provide insights into diverse areas, build bridges to the campus-wide community and empower members.”

Anderson notes that affinity groups have representatives on UTSA’s Inclusive Excellence Advisory Board, charged with proactively and systemically addressing strategic issues to develop and maintain a welcoming and inclusive campus at UTSA.  

Affinity group information is one of many features of UTSA’s new Inclusive Excellence website, in addition to a multitude of resources including diversity research, impact and evaluation, faculty mentoring and retention along with learning tools and diversity terminology. One of the interactive features of the website—called the Idea Catcher—allows users to share their thoughts on how to advance diversity and inclusion at UTSA.

Faculty and staff interested in learning more about UTSA’s affinity groups, or starting a new one, should contact the Office of Inclusive Excellence at 210-458-4451 or InclusiveExcellence@utsa.edu, or stop by Main Building (MB 2.102).

President Taylor Eighmy launched the Presidential Initiative on Inclusive Excellence in February as a key part of his strategic vision to promote an inclusive community of learners, to raise awareness and appreciation of multicultural perspectives, and to establish policies, practices, programs and resources designed to embrace and support diversity.

Rachel Barchus-Perkes


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UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.


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UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.