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Message of Welcome

Welcome to the University of Connecticut’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice page!  This site will serve as the University’s central hub for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) information and initiatives.  It will provide resources, opportunities for engagement, and celebrations of the many diverse communities who call UConn “home.”

UConn is committed to diversity, a crucial part of the University's mission.  We also believe that diversity makes our campuses better places to learn and work and positions UConn as a state, regional, and local leader in education, research, and outreach.  Quite simply, we believe that the diversity of our communities makes UConn stronger.

The important transformational work related to DEIJ will only be successful if the University has buy-in and input from our entire community; no singular department or unit can do this work on its own.  This website provides an entry point for every member of the UConn community – whether a student, alumni, staff, faculty, or a member of the surrounding communities, we invite you to join in this important work with us.  Together, we can improve the UConn experience for every member of our community.

Mission Statement

The University of Connecticut is committed to building a safe and inclusive community for all its members through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Under the guidance of the Vice President, Dr. Jeffrey Hines, we as members of the UConn community aim to listen, reflect, learn, and act to make our community safe and a place of belonging for all. We aim to support diversity, equity, and inclusion by offering support for success for people of all backgrounds.

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the territory of the Eastern Pequot, Golden Hill Paugussett, Lenape, Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan, Nipmuc and Schaghticoke Peoples who have stewarded this land throughout the generations. We thank them for their strength and resilience in protecting this land, and aspire to uphold our responsibilities according to their example.

Pronunciations: Eastern Pequot (Pea-kwaht); Golden Hill Paugussett (paw-GUS-it); Lenape (Leh-NAH-pay); Mashantucket Pequot (Mash-un-tuck-it Pea-kwaht);  Mohegan (Mo-he-gan); Nipmuc (Nip-muck); Schaghticoke (ska-teh-COKE)

Statements

October 2025 Heritage Celebrations

October 2, 2025

To the UConn Community: The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of October: Heritage Month Celebrations: Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15): Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the many diverse cultures and […]

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September 2025 Heritage Celebrations

September 2, 2025

To the UConn Community: The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of September: Heritage Month Celebrations: National Recovery Month: September is National Recovery Month, which promotes and celebrates the nation’s recovery community, emphasizing that recovery from mental […]

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August 2025 Heritage Celebrations

August 5, 2025

To the UConn Community: The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of August: Heritage Month Celebrations: Purple Heart Month: Observed each August, Purple Heart Month honors U.S. military service members who have been wounded […]

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@uconndiversity

Join the Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Democracy and Dialogues Initiative for a thought-provoking, faculty-led conversation on the evolving meaning and practice of academic freedom in today’s higher education landscape.

This dialogue invites you into small group facilitated conversations with fellow UConn faculty, graduate students, and staff to explore how academic freedom is understood and experienced across roles and campuses. Together, we’ll consider how academic freedom shapes our work, the challenges we encounter, and the kind of academic community we hope to cultivate.

Come be part of the conversation. Your voice matters. Link in bio to register.

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Open post by uconndiversity with ID 18079220930062077
Join the Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Democracy and Dialogues Initiative for a thought-provoking, faculty-led conversation on the evolving meaning and practice of academic freedom in today’s higher education landscape. This dialogue invites you into small group facilitated conversations with fellow UConn faculty, graduate students, and staff to explore how academic freedom is understood and experienced across roles and campuses. Together, we’ll consider how academic freedom shapes our work, the challenges we encounter, and the kind of academic community we hope to cultivate. Come be part of the conversation. Your voice matters. Link in bio to register.

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🌸 Navaratri (September 22 - October 2): Navratri, also known as Shardiya Navratri, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across Northern and Eastern India. This festival symbolizes the nine nights of battle between good and evil, culminating in the victory of good on the tenth day. During this period, Mother Durga is worshipped as the deity of power, energy, and wisdom.

🌸 Yom Kippur (October 2): Yom Kippur begins sunset October 1. It is the Day of Atonement and considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Yom Kippur marks the culmination of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.”

🌸 Dussehra (October 2): Vijayadashami, more commonly known as Dassahra in Hindi, and also known as Dashāhra or Dashain in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Nepali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navarahtri. Dussehra 2025 will be celebrated on the 2nd of October, marking the victory of good over evil. Celebrations are held by lighting fireworks. In addition, festival preparations for Diwali or Deepavali begin.

🌸 Feast of St Francis of Assisi (October 4): The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He is remembered for his love for animals and nature. It’s on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi that many pets are blessed in churches.

Continuation in Comments, please see below.

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Open post by uconndiversity with ID 18102912574626182
🌸 Navaratri (September 22 - October 2): Navratri, also known as Shardiya Navratri, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across Northern and Eastern India. This festival symbolizes the nine nights of battle between good and evil, culminating in the victory of good on the tenth day. During this period, Mother Durga is worshipped as the deity of power, energy, and wisdom. 🌸 Yom Kippur (October 2): Yom Kippur begins sunset October 1. It is the Day of Atonement and considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Yom Kippur marks the culmination of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.” 🌸 Dussehra (October 2): Vijayadashami, more commonly known as Dassahra in Hindi, and also known as Dashāhra or Dashain in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Nepali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navarahtri. Dussehra 2025 will be celebrated on the 2nd of October, marking the victory of good over evil. Celebrations are held by lighting fireworks. In addition, festival preparations for Diwali or Deepavali begin. 🌸 Feast of St Francis of Assisi (October 4): The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He is remembered for his love for animals and nature. It’s on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi that many pets are blessed in churches. Continuation in Comments, please see below.

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🌸 International Day of Older Persons (October 1): The United Nations sets aside October 1 to draw attention to the challenges of population aging in the twenty-first century and to promote societal development for people of all ages. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a monumental document in the history of human rights. Written by representatives from around the world with different legal, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, it is the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected. This year’s theme is “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights.”

🌸 German American Heritage Day (October 6): This day honors the contributions German Americans have made to the country. It is recognized on this day to commemorate the October 6, 1683, arrival of the first German immigrants to the United States.

🌸 Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (October 6): The Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节), also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a Chinese festival to give thanks for the Autumn harvest. This year, the festival falls on October 6th. It is an occasion for families to gather for dinner, celebrate the full moon, share mooncakes, and enjoy a range of festive events like lighting paper lanterns.

🌸 Chuseok/Hangawi (October 5-7): This holiday is one of the most significant in South Korea, often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving. Chuseok is a major harvest festival celebrated over the course of three days. People celebrate by traveling back to their hometowns to pay respect to the spirit of their ancestors, share a feast of traditional Korean food, wear a formal dress called “hanbok” and exchange gifts.

Continuation in Comments, please see below.

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Open post by uconndiversity with ID 18068411900205645
🌸 International Day of Older Persons (October 1): The United Nations sets aside October 1 to draw attention to the challenges of population aging in the twenty-first century and to promote societal development for people of all ages. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a monumental document in the history of human rights. Written by representatives from around the world with different legal, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, it is the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected. This year’s theme is “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights.” 🌸 German American Heritage Day (October 6): This day honors the contributions German Americans have made to the country. It is recognized on this day to commemorate the October 6, 1683, arrival of the first German immigrants to the United States. 🌸 Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (October 6): The Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节), also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a Chinese festival to give thanks for the Autumn harvest. This year, the festival falls on October 6th. It is an occasion for families to gather for dinner, celebrate the full moon, share mooncakes, and enjoy a range of festive events like lighting paper lanterns. 🌸 Chuseok/Hangawi (October 5-7): This holiday is one of the most significant in South Korea, often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving. Chuseok is a major harvest festival celebrated over the course of three days. People celebrate by traveling back to their hometowns to pay respect to the spirit of their ancestors, share a feast of traditional Korean food, wear a formal dress called “hanbok” and exchange gifts. Continuation in Comments, please see below.

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