DEI overview

The Department of Health and Human Physiology strives to build and maintain an inclusive and diverse environment where differences of opinion, beliefs, and values are sought, listened to, respected, and valued.

Through intentional efforts, the Department is dedicated to expanding education, participation, and leadership that reflects our expansive department and empowers individuals who(m) identify as minoritized and/or underrepresented (e.g. race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, religion, disability, veteran status, etc.).  The department believes that diversity across academic, research, and extra-curricular settings is a vital component of educating future professionals.

Access, Opportunity, and Diversity Committee

HHP AOD student committee

  • Hunter Arbogast
  • Jacky Raygoza
  • Jane Berg
  • Juliana Bempah
  • Kenneth Stellish
  • Mary Crotty
  • Maya Greer
  • Maya Heckart
  • Megan Chapman
  • Mercedes Juelfs
  • Mimi Roberts
  • Morgan Miller
  • Naomi Bratsch-Prince 
  • Natalie Knapp
  • Regan Blackwood
  • Rob Gilkey-Meisegeier
  • Roberto Moreno
  • Shaun Pothepalli
  • Maya Greer
  • Yuanjie Wu
  • Aidan Haftl
  • Bethel Tewabe

Resources for University of Iowa students

Access, Opportunity, and Diversity at Iowa

The Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity provides leadership and resources to support the University diversity, equality and inclusion goals as expressed in the University of Iowa’s strategic plan. They also help inform all parts of campus about opportunities happening across campus.

Black in Business

Black in Business is a group that hopes to expose Black students to unique mentorship opportunities and is in collaboration with the Division of Student Life’s Being Black@Iowa Project. Their goal is to allow students to learn more about business from black professionals, discover their inner entrepreneur, and be empowered.

Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence (CIAE)

The Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence (CIAE) provides pre-college student development, assistance with facilitating the enrollment process, and academic coaching to help historically marginalized, first-generation students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive and succeed at the University of Iowa. 

Building University of Iowa Leadership for Diversity (BUILD) Certificate Program

BUILD is a program that focuses on inclusion and equality in the classroom and in the workplace. BUILD is taught through real world experiences by working in workshops. There are a few different ways for a person to receive their BUILD certificate- first being by completing the required courses along with five elective courses, or you could complete the 6- week summer BUILD cohort plan.

Iowa Edge Program

The Iowa Edge program allows for students who are not yet comfortable attending such a large university adjust and find their way around campus. The program helps people find a community on their campus. The communities that are made within Iowa Edge are both students and faculty members so that new students will feel comfortable speaking with the faculty members. This helps students prepare for not only their life at the university, but also for the real world.

Additional resources

Student Disability Services

https://sds.studentlife.uiowa.edu/accommodations
The Student Disability Services are dedicated to providing accommodations to implement reasonable academic help. The students and professors work together to provide helpful accommodation so that the student gets equal opportunities to succeed. Once a student shows a Letter of Accommodation the professor is required to provide accommodations for exam services, media services, and deaf and hard of hearing services. 

Transit Services for Persons with Disabilities

https://transportation.uiowa.edu/cambus
U of Iowa CAMBUS offers two different transportation services for persons with temporary and permanent disabilities. The Bionic bus is a door-to-door, demand-response service that is provided with ramp-equipped mini buses. All CAMBUS fixed route buses are also wheelchair accessible. bionic-bus@uiowa.edu. (319) 335-7595

Council on Disability Awareness

https://cda.org.uiowa.edu
This council partners with different groups around the University of Iowa campus and the surrounding community to help boost the inclusivity for the area around. It supports any person with disabilities to further engage them with their education, work, care, or visit on campus and the surrounding area. 

IT Accessibility at Iowa

https://itaccessibility.uiowa.edu
IT Accessibility at Iowa provides resources regarding media and technology for University of Iowa students and staff. This page provides resources such as accessibility guides, policy and standards, and testing to help students and staff use technology in the easiest and most effective ways. 

UI Students for Disability Advocacy and Awareness

https://uiowa.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/uisdaa
UI Students for Disability Advocacy and Awareness is a student organization in which students with disabilities and their allies to create disability awareness and create a safe community for those with disabilities. This group holds weekly meetings to educate members, plan events, and raise awareness for those with disabilities.  Uiowa reach  progam is people who has disability.

Disability Planning and Action Committee

https://diversity.uiowa.edu/disability-planning-and-action-committee
The Disability Planning and Action Committee leads and coordinates the University of Iowa’s efforts to provide access to members of the university community with disabilities. They work to create long term plans to implement infrastructure, technology, and monitors that comply with ADA standards and regulations.

Faculty and Staff Disability Services

https://hr.uiowa.edu/support/faculty-and-staff-disability-services
This is used to support faculty that needs alternative arrangements in the case of a disability or other circumstance. It gives links to disability tools and requests that are needed for individuals.

AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities)

https://www.aapd.com
This org helps support people with disabilities to increase their political and economic power that could be available to them.

ADA National Network

https://adata.org/

First Generation Community

https://firstgen.uiowa.edu/about
The First Generation Community is compiled of University of Iowa students that are newly accustomed to a university experience. The parents of these students have no previous higher education from U.S. institutions, therefore, first generation students are the first in their families.

First Generation Task Force

https://firstgen.uiowa.edu/about/first-generation-task-force
The first generation task force is a team of undergraduate Iowa students that work to review and improve campus practices that can best support first-generation students at the University of Iowa. The group recognizes the unique challenges to a newly accustomed university environment and launches programs and services that can ease these transitions and challenges.

First Generation Living Learning Community (LLC)

https://housing.uiowa.edu/communities/first-generation
This resource provides a community in which students may live near other students in the same first generation community. It also requires that all students take a first generation course together and helps students to build meaningful relationships with their peers.

TRIO SSS (Student Support Services)

https://diversity.uiowa.edu/trio-sss
TRIO SSS is a program that provides resources to first generation students. The services benefit financial and academic needs to propel first generation students to reach their full potential while studying at the University of Iowa. This organization is federally-funded by the U.S. department of education to ensure the success of students new to the college experience.

Hawkeye First Generation Initiative

https://dailyiowan.com/2020/01/21/ui-provost-unveils-hawkeye-first-gener...
The Hawkeye First Generation Initiative focuses on academic engagement, mentoring, and connection of first generation students. Peer mentoring is available along with coaching from faculty and staff members on campus. 

Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence (CIAE)

https://diversity.uiowa.edu/division/CIAE
The Center for Diversity and Enrichment at the University of Iowa has many resources for incoming students who are transitioning into college. This page can help students prepare for their college life and become familiar with what to expect.

Afro House

https://multicultural.uiowa.edu/culturalcenters/afrohouse
The Afro House provides a welcoming and open space for Black students at the University of Iowa. This resource strives to help them make positive choices, best serve their community, and pushes them to experience themselves.

African American Council (AAC)

https://africanamericancouncil.uiowa.edu
The African American Council (AAC) is a progressive resource that strives to improve the quality of life for black faculty and students. The AAC does this by lobbying for policies and using insight to create programming. The AAC also provides a space for Black faculty and students to discuss issues that may arise and how to overcome these issues.

Black Student Union

https://uiowa.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/black-student-union
The Black Student Union strives to foster balance through community involvement, academic excellence, and cultural activities for Black students. This student union also focuses on recruitment and retention for Black students at the University of Iowa.

Asian Pacific American Cultural Center

https://multicultural.uiowa.edu/culturalcenters/apacc

  • space to interact with other minority students 
  • kitchen, living room, dining room, study rooms, TVs

Pan Asian Council

https://pac.org.uiowa.edu/

  • serves and advocates for asian communities 
  • link to sign up for the council 

IMAGES (Iowa Minority Academic Grant for Economic Success)

https://financialaid.uiowa.edu/types/grants

  • state need based grant for iowa students pursuing their first undergraduate degree 

Office of Graduate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

https://grad.uiowa.edu/dei/grad-dei

  • This office is committed to serving underrepresented and underserved graduate populations.
  • They offer a number of resources including:
    • Events and programming through our Connecting Communities: Creating Space for Underrepresented Students
    • Providing training, networking, community building, and celebrating achievements to establish a foundation of support on campus
    • Holding space for students who experience isolation, micro-aggressions, and any other factors that may deter a student’s academic mission
    • Offering the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) which provides underrepresented undergraduate students with research experience to create a getaway to graduate education

Latino Native American Cultural Center

https://multicultural.uiowa.edu/culturalcenters/lnacc
The Iowa LNACC provides a sense of belonging where students can engage with their personal, academic, cultural, and spiritual identities. The center is available for programming and as a venue for University of Iowa student organization events. Over the years, the center has become the home to many students and student organizations that sponsor community educational programs, boycotts, and rallies to address community and campus issues.

Student organizations

https://uiowa.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations?query=latino%20latinx 
The student organizations resource gives a link to all 10 student organizations on campus targeted toward Hispanic/Latinx students. Within the list there are organizations for law students, medical students, STEM students and greek life. Each of them targeted toward Hispanic/Latinx to help students feel more welcomed and give encouragement to be the best they can be on campus and in their regular life.

Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence (CIAE)

https://diversity.uiowa.edu/division/CIAE
The Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence (CIAE) provides pre-college student development, academic coaching, assistance with the enrollment process, and many other programs and activities that support diverse students. Programming is offered to enhance cultural, social, and academic experiences of students. Academic coaches are also available to support students throughout all aspects of their college experience.

Latin American Studies

https://catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu/liberal-arts-sciences/latin-american...
The Latin American Studies Program (LASP) is an interdisciplinary curriculum that introduces students to the cultures, arts, languages, histories, and social practices of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. In addition to its instructional activity, LASP sponsors a wide variety of activities, brings scholars of Latin America to campus, and fosters institutional linkages.

On campus support

LGBTQ+ Resources

https://diversity.uiowa.edu/resources/lgbtq-resources
LGBTQ+ on campus offers 13+ support groups offering social events and support networks. UIowa also offers financial aid, the trans student support fund, an alumni affinity group, legal services and counseling. 

Trans @ Iowa

https://trans-resources.org.uiowa.edu
Trans @ Iowa exists as a resource for trans students, communities, and their allies.

Trans @ Iowa–gender inclusive housing on campus

https://trans-resources.org.uiowa.edu/living-campus
This resource explains the All In LLC (Living Learning Community) for transgender people within the University of Iowa dorms. It also explains gender- inclusive housing on campus and provides steps on how to navigate the UI-on campus living application. 

Trans @ Iowa–gender inclusive restrooms on campus

https://trans-resources.org.uiowa.edu/gender-inclusive-restroom-map-campus

Trans-inclusive services

https://counseling.uiowa.edu/services/trans-inclusive-services/  
Student Health and University counseling services work together to provide initial exploration, treatment for mental illnesses, support, coming out, and any other issues or concerns for people in the transgender community. They have specific doctors to help those going through hormone therapy. The website makes it easy to get started and make an appointment to make the process as stress free. 

Statewide support

Transformations Iowa

https://www.facebook.com/transformationsiowa
This is a support group for transgender and non-binary people with meetings

National support

GLAAD

https://www.glaad.org/about 
This resource contains a multitude of other online websites within different categories such as political, bisexual, youth, military, transgender, aging, legal, and general. 

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

https://www.hrc.org
“The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community”

HRC Foundation Youth Ambassadors

https://www.hrc.org/resources/youth-ambassadors
Youth members of the LGTBQ community come together to represent the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) Foundation and to advocate, support, and talk about common concerns within the community. The ambassadors are diverse, young adults from across the US.

The University Club

https://uwc.org.uiowa.edu/
Group that supports social interaction with women living in Iowa City and looking to attend the University of Iowa.

Women's Resource and Action Center

https://wrac.uiowa.edu/programs-and-services/women-colour-network
Create a place for dialect, support, and empowerment among staff and students to promote equality. It is also a place to explore racial, ethnic, and cultural communities.

The X in the term “Womxn” is to take out the word man in the word women to avoid sexism

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1267606733367185/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/uiowaWOCN/

Contact info for Women's Resource and Action Center:
jessica-padilla@uiowa.edu
wrac@uiowa.edu
319-335-1486