University of Alabama at Birmingham
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

http://www.uab.edu/policies/content/Pages/UAB-BT-POL-0000052.aspx UAB is committed to equal opportunity in education and employment, and the maintenance and promotion of nondiscrimination and prevention of discriminatory harassment in all aspects of education, recruitment and employment of individuals throughout the university.

This bias reporting system has just been completed in partnership with the Faculty Senate. http://www.uab.edu/studentaffairs/biasreporting/

The Comprehensive Minority Faculty and Student Development Program CMFSDP provides undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships totaling $733,000 annually. In addition, the CMFSDP assists departments with hiring and retaining African-American faculty, including professional development support for tenure-track faculty. The Equity Leadership Council: An equity advisor (EA) is appointed by the dean or director of each school or unit with regular faculty and serves as a member of The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Equity Leadership Council. The council meets regularly during each academic year. Equity Advisors have a central role in faculty training, monitoring the faculty search and other hiring processes, and consultations on matters of equity. Equity Advisors leverage their direct experience with local culture and climate to advise their deans in terms of strategy, policy, training, climate, and accountability. Although Equity Advisors report directly to their deans, they also work closely with and provide invaluable advice to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. They represent the most important advisory council for the Office. The duties and responsibilities of equity advisors include the following: Collect and maintain information on faculty vacancies, tenure decisions and promotions in the school or unit. Serve as a non-voting member of each faculty recruitment, tenure and promotion committee in the school or unit. Maintain a database of journals and publications read by minorities and women in each subject area of the school or unit. Review all advertisements for faculty vacancies before they are published. Serve as a resource for faculty recruiting for the dean or director and department chairs in the school or unit. Provide an annual report on recruiting activities in the school or unit to the dean or director and to the Vice President for Diversity Equity and Inclusion. Certify that all recruitment policies and procedures have been followed for each recruitment activity by signing the Faculty Recruitment Experience Report. UAB Equity Advisors provide leadership in establishing diversity as a core value within the unit. https://www.uab.edu/dei/resource-groups/equity-leadership-council The UAB Title VI Program on the Recruitment and Retention of Black Faculty and Administrators supports a committee to advise the president and administration. UAB is an NSF-affiliate for LSAMP scholarships. We have 10 scholarships for underrepresented minority students in math, science, technology or engineering. The scholarships provide up to $3,800 per year in support of tuition. Entering freshman, freshman and sophomores are eligible for support.

The Alliance for LGBTQ equality at UAB offers the above support programs: http://www.uab.edu/alliance/campus-resources The African-American Faculty Association: https://www.uab.edu/dei/resource-groups/african-american-faculty-association The Commission on the Status of Women: https://www.uab.edu/women/ The Equity Leadership Council: https://www.uab.edu/dei/resource-groups/equity-leadership-council UAB Wellness administers the Employee Assistance and Counseling Center: We provide confidential support services for employees and members of their immediate household with free resources for resolving work-related and personal problems. UAB Student Health and Wellness: The SHWC Counseling Service assists in developing students’ potential in physical, academic, spiritual, psychosocial, emotional and vocational areas. Individual and couples counseling Crisis counseling Wellness programs Group opportunities Educational resources Confidential counseling services are available to all currently enrolled UAB students at no cost. Psychiatric services are also available.

The Comprehensive Minority Faculty and Student Development Program CMFSDP provides undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships totaling $733,000 annually. The Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) is designed to enhance the academic performance of underrepresented minority students through regular meetings to discuss academic opportunities and to learn about programs at UAB to help students succeed. UAB annually offers The Bridge to the Doctorate funding through the NSF to provide support for minorty students to attend grad school and earn a PHD in STEM fields. The support includes an annual stipend of $30,000, tuition, fees, and health insurance for a 2-year period. During the past 12 years, 120 students have been awarded these fellowships at UAB, UAH, UA, and Auburn. UAB is an AGEP institution and the lead investigator for this effort in Alabama: http://epscor.ua.edu/alabama-minority-serving-institutions.html