The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Engagement

aerial campus

UIC is one of the nation’s most diverse public research universities. We are committed to fostering a university culture grounded in access, equity, inclusion, and belonging—one where people from all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences can learn, work, and thrive. Embracing diverse perspectives fuels innovation, expands knowledge, and strengthens our ability to address the complex challenges facing our communities.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Engagement provides strategic leadership to advance community engagement, equity, and belonging across the university. We cultivate meaningful partnerships throughout Chicago, support initiatives that widen access and strengthen connections across our campus and communities, and lead engagement efforts that advance knowledge, expand opportunity, and serve the public good.

Our office provides leadership and support for eight cultural and resource centers, two neighborhood centers, and university-wide committees that foster collaboration, strengthen campus-community relationships, and advance equity across UIC.

Our mission grounds our vision, our values guide how we pursue it, and our areas of impact are where the work comes to life.

  • Vision

    The Office for Engagement at UIC seeks to build a thriving campus where active learning, comprehensive support, and authentic community partnerships open doors to opportunity.

  • Mission

    Through its three-pillar framework, the Office for Engagement advances a proactive commitment to foster a diverse, equity-centered, and inclusive campus community by cultivating collaborative partnerships, supporting transformative learning, and empowering students, faculty, staff, and community members to create positive institutional and social change.

Our Pillars

  1. Educate: Facilitate inclusive learning experiences and provide resources that deepen understanding, encourage critical self-reflection to promote reciprocal learning, and strengthen collaborative relationships across the university community.
  2. Collaborate: Partner with internal and external partners by sharing knowledge, resources, and responsibility to achieve common goals that transform both the university and the broader community.
  3. Elevate: Amplify diverse voices and advocate for equity by ensuring underrepresented perspectives are heard and valued in ways that catalyze agency to ensure excellence, access, and success.

Core Values

The Office for Engagement is SLEEC (pronounced “sleek”)

Areas of Impact

Explore the areas below to learn about some of the ways our work supports students, faculty, staff, and community partners.

Inclusive Programming for Cultural Understanding:

The Centers for Cultural Understanding & Social Change foster belonging, intercultural learning, and community through programs that celebrate diverse identities and experiences.

Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Pathways

The Office of Community Collaboration builds reciprocal partnerships that connect the university with Chicago’s communities through education, collaboration, and shared impact.

Curriculum & Education

We provide educational programs, courses and professional development opportunities that strengthen cultural understanding, equity, and inclusive practices. Examples of these efforts are below:

Faculty, Staff & Student Support

The Rigo Padilla-Pérez Undocumented Student Resource Center and Centers for Cultural Understanding & Social Change foster supportive communities where students, faculty, and staff can find connection, resources, and care.

The Bias Reporting Tool provides a centralized way for members of the university community to report incidents of bias, access support, and connect with appropriate campus resources.

Committee & Council Leadership

We support three campus-wide advisory groups: 1) the Chancellor’s Status Committee, 2) the Diversity Advisory Committee and 3) the Diversity Collaborative Committee. These committees advise campus leadership and aid in coordinating institutional initiatives that advance equity and engagement across UIC.

Campus Climate Assessment

Through efforts such as the Equity Dashboard Project and the Campus Climate Survey, we collect, analyze, and share data to inform institutional decision-making, assess progress, and strengthen the campus experience for all members of the UIC community.

Advocacy

The Centers for Cultural Understanding & Social Change and office leadership advance initiatives that amplify underrepresented voices, promote equitable policies and practices, and strengthen a culture of belonging across the university.