The UI College of Nursing works to increase diversity in the school, both in the classrooms and in the real world, through the seven pillars of diversity developed by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

By Annie Fitzpatrick | The Daily Iowan | 2/26/2019

The understanding of cultural competency and diversity has become increasingly important in the profession of nursing in recent years, and the University of Iowa College of Nursing has taken action through the implementation of new initiatives.

The school has directed its focus more toward the importance of diversity in recent years through the development of its seven pillars of diversity, drafted by the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Co-chair of the committee Valerie Garr, who has worked for the college since 2008, has helped guide the school toward a more diverse and inclusive environment.

The mission is to use diversity in order to strengthen work relationships, promote better understanding across cultures, be accountable in working to “dismantle implicit and explicit biases,” and raise overall awareness, she said.

“We wanted to ask our … faculty and staff what they understood diversity to be, how they feel that they integrate diversity into whatever work they do, what are some of their concerns or worries about their ability to integrate diversity into the work that they do,” Garr said.

The seven pillars break down diversity into segments that are easier to understand in terms of inclusivity, she said.

Click here to read the full article by The Daily Iowan

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