To provide support services for underrepresented students. To assist in the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students. To build a sense of community and unity among all students. To further the Volunteer State 's goal of promoting diversity and equality of all persons at Volunteer State .
Diversity initiatives strives to make the academic and social integration of underrepresented students to college life as smooth as possible through mentoring and exposure to academic programs and student services. The availability of leadership training and attendance to regional and national conferences further enhances diverse students' experiences.
Download the Vol State Diversity Plan in Microsoft Word format.
Why Diversity Matters
Imagine a world where everything was the same and there were no options or differences. You ate the same meal every day, you wore the same type of clothes, watched the same shows on the television and everyone thought the exact same way. What if you didn't think the same way, act the same way, dress the same way and you were shunned, isolated and not considered during decision making processes? Wouldnt that be a tragic and horific existence? Thankfully, we live in a society that is vastly different. Diversity and Inclusion denotes that yes, we are all different. We don't have the same mindset, we don't share that same background, and we don't share the same values. But the beautiful part in that difference is there are similarities. Once we learn to capitalize on the similarities, then the differences will melt away. But not only do we need to understand and celebrate our differences, but we also need to know that every person deserves their individual voices heard. The ability to celebrate differences and having differencet perspectives can blend into a wonderful conglomerate. What would a dinner be like if you have a savory meal in front of you, but it was bland without taste? You reach for salt, but realize because it's different, it's not on the table. Or you reach for a utensil to eat with and discover it's different so it wasn't permitted at the table. That's how Diversity and Inclusion works. you can't have one without the other. So when we view people who aren't like us, let's remind ourselves, "Do I want to merely exist? Or do I want to enjoy my life through the beauty of differences?"