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Dr. Marcus L. Martin

Marcus L. Martin

Contact Us

P.O. Box 400881
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4881

Phone:
434-243-2079
Fax:
434-243-2091
Email:
djt@virginia.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

What role does the Office for Diversity and Equity (ODE) play at the University of Virginia?
ODE provides leadership, coordination, information, and services to departments and units across the university to facilitate the implementation of diversity strategies and actions throughout the institution.  In an effort to embrace diversity and equity as pillars of excellence, ODE assists and monitors all units of the University in their efforts to recruit and retain faculty, staff and students from historically underrepresented groups and to improve affirmative and supportive environments for work and life at the University of Virginia. ODE synergizes and horizontally integrates the diversity efforts of various units around grounds.

Who does ODE serve?
The particular historical context of the University of Virginia, demographic and cultural changes in the Commonwealth and the nation, and the administrative charge from the university frame ODE’s particular focus on historically underrepresented groups.  Even so, ODE serves individuals from all sectors of the University’s constituent groups, as evidenced by the broad range of programs and activities that ODE has supported.

How does ODE support students, faculty, and staff?
ODE is available as a resource to students, faculty, and staff who have any concerns about diversity and equity.  ODE also reaches out to various faculty and student groups and often organizes events that bring people from various backgrounds together for intellectual and social engagement.   

What type of event will ODE support financially?  How do I apply for support?
Members of the university community may submit funding requests to ODE for events and activities that advance cross-racial and cross-cultural communication and understanding.  ODE-funded programs have included: academic/educational programs to advance learning; cultural events to promote the arts, history, music, etc.; conferences/retreats to build team spirit; educational tools (publications and other literature, etc.); service to assist various organizations in need; and cultural and social gatherings.  ODE will not fund events where alcohol is served or fund the day-to-day operating costs for student organizations.  A link to funding procedures and request forms is located on ODE’s homepage on the right hand side under “Related Topics”.  Click on “Request for funding/support from ODE”.  

What initiatives has ODE undertaken? 

  • Initiated the annual University of Virginia Symposium on Race and Society
  • Created two J-term courses: Education and Social Change in Ghana, and Disaster Preparedness in the West Indies in St. Kitts and Nevis.   
  • Received a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to partner with three other Virginia research intense institutions (Virginia Tech, VCU, and George Mason University) and four Historically Black Colleges and Universities(Elizabeth City State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Bennett College for Women and St Augustine’s College).  The goal of the grant is to increase enrollment and graduation rates of underrepresented minorities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through the Virginia-North Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation.
  • Initiated a summer math program for Buford middle school students in the federally funded GEAR –UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness Undergraduate Program).
  • Collaborated with Charlottesville High School(CHS) and UVA Student National Medical Association and UVA Daniel Hale Williams pre med society to form a Medical Sciences Club to mentor  entering CHS ninth grade students who have an interest in a medical career..  
  • Formed the Alumni Diversity Advisory Committee to gain insights from prominent graduates about ways to identify and recruit outstanding students of color.
  • Formed a Community Resource Advisory Group (CRAG) to gain insights from local community leaders on community- university diversity relations. 
  • Developed a formal relationship with the Journal of Race and Policy to support multicultural research and scholarship.
  • Sponsored community health fairs in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area with local health agencies, medical providers, and religious organizations. 
  • Initiated annual lecture series entitled “Forum on the Academy in the 21st Century”.
  • Created a quarterly electronic newsletter, Dimensions of Diversity.
  • Initiated a dinner series with UVA faculty member Julian Bond as the featured quest. Faculty and staff from a wide representation of schools/departments and units are invited to attend these events, along with prominent members of the local community.  These dinners help to achieve the ODE goal of enhancing relationships among the increasingly diverse population.  

If I have a question about a diversity initiative that I would like to propose, with whom should I speak?
Mr. Harvey and Dr. Martin welcome questions, suggestions, and concerns.  Their email addresses are listed on the ODE website’s staff page. 

Where do I find statistics regarding minority enrollment and graduation rates?
For information with regards to minority enrollment please see the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website, http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/index.html.   Information on enrollment can also be found on the Institutional Assessment and Studies Office’s website, http://www.web.virginia.edu/iaas/home.htm.  If you have further questions regarding enrollment you should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly.

Who do I contact with regard to diversity issues within my academic unit?
Please visit the Voices for Diversity website at http://www.virginia.edu/uvadiversity/, where individual school diversity sites are linked.

Where do I find information about sexual harassment policies?
Please see the Equal Opportunities Program (EOP) website at http://www.virginia.edu/eop/ for guidance.

I have experienced disparaging remarks and subtle or overt discrimination based on my race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.  How can ODE help?
If you have experienced acts of bias or discrimination please report these on the Just Report It system at: http://www.virginia.edu/justreportit.  The Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President for Diversity and Equity, the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer, the University Police, and the Dean on call will receive simultaneous copies of the bias report.  The Dean on call will follow-up on the report within 24 hours by contacting the person who filed the report.  If follow-up is not to your satisfaction then please contact Mr. Harvey. 

Where can I find resources for LGBT students?
The LGBT Resource Center, which is a resource in the Office of the Dean of Students, is located in Newcomb Hall room 435.  The following website lists the LGBT Resource Center’s programmatic activities, events and resources, http://www.virginia.edu/deanofstudents/programsandservices/lgbt.html
Please contact Joy Pugh, Program Coordinator, (434) 924-7133 or joypugh@virginia.edu for more information.

Where can I find a mentoring program for students of color?
The Office for African American Affairs at http://www.virginia.edu/oaaa/ offers a faculty mentoring program as well as its nationally recognized peer advisor program.

If I am a teaching assistant for a course related to diversity issues, where can I find links to on-line diversity resources, toolkits, trainings I can explore and possibly use in my course?

What is ODE’s top priority in the coming year?
ODE is committed to addressing diversity goals as outlined in the Commission on the Future of the University. Specifically, ODE intends to assist the university in recruiting additional numbers of students of color from across the nation.   Other concerns include increasing the number of faculty of color, and expanding the curriculum to include more courses that address diversity. 

When is the office open?  Does Vice President Harvey have office hours available?
The office is open from 8-5 Monday through Friday.  To better serve you, please call 434-243-2079 to schedule an appointment.  For student access and convenience, Mr. Harvey also holds office hours.   The schedule for his office hours this semester is located on the VP Diversity website and is updated regularly. 

Where is ODE located?
ODE is located in Madison Hall which is directly across from the Rotunda on University Avenue. For security reasons, access to Madison Hall is somewhat limited.  It is best to call in advance for an appointment with an ODE administrator or staff person. The phone number is 434 243 2079.  When entering Madison Hall please inform the receptionist at the front desk the purpose of your visit.  The receptionist will direct you to take the elevator up one flight, exit to the right, and proceed down the hall.  ODE is located in room 314, the last door on the left.