Anti-Racism Statement

The University College at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte affirms its commitment to recognizing, addressing, and eradicating all forms of racism and ethnic oppression. We focus on engaging and collaborating in teaching, service, and scholarship that challenge oppressive and unjust forces. We work to reduce racial injustices within the academy and the broader community. The staff of the University College is united in the pursuit of ending racial and ethnic bias and empowering our students toward this collective goal.

We acknowledge that regardless of race or ethnicity, individuals are at various points along an anti-racist journey. We also understand that bias can be unconscious or unintentional and that racism combines social and institutional power and racial prejudice. Identifying these two specific forms of oppression and disparate outcomes does not automatically mean that those involved intended a negative impact. These conversations require courage, respect, and compassion and may not always be or seek to be comfortable. However, as an anti-racist and ethnically unbiased community, we will purposefully strive to identify, discuss and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members.

We stand committed:

1. To affirm explicitly and in united solidarity our identity as an anti-racist academic unit.
2. To individual and institutional exploration and examination of implicit bias and systemic advantage/oppression such that our anti-racism commitment is reflected in the life and culture of the University College through our policies, programs, and practices as we continue to learn about racism and ethnic oppression.
3. To develop and implement strategies and best practices that dismantle racism and ethnic oppression within all aspects of our academic unit, college, university, community, and society.

^{Important Note: This anti-racism statement was written by and for the School of Social Work. The University College has adopted it.}