Equity Access Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives (EAIDI) Committee
EAIDI: Who We Are
The Committee for Equity, Access, Inclusion, and Diversity Initiatives (EAIDI) was
created to support WCU's College of Arts and Humanities in its commitment to increasing
diversity, access, inclusion, and equity within our community. The committee’s main
role is to advise the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities on strategies to
address these issues, including the celebration of achievements; education and support
of students, faculty, staff, and administrators; and improving the climate of the
college.
Since 2016, we have worked to provide faculty with grant funding for essential projects
related to these goals, ultimately helping our college and greater campus community
grow toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
EAIDI is especially interested in supporting initiatives that contribute towards institutional
priorities which include closing the equity gap between White students and BIPOC students;
increasing the graduation rate and/or the second fall retention rate for BIPOC and
other historically marginalized student populations; creating inclusive classroom
and campus climates, and supporting the access mission of the University. Grant applications
need to demonstrate that the proposal functions in alignment with EAIDI’s principles.
Equity, access, inclusion, and diversity are understood to work in many spheres, including
pedagogical, research, community outreach, and co-curricular activities.
EAIDI’s principles emerged from a need to center and ground our conversations and
deliberations as a committee in relation to grants and the larger political climate
both on- and off-campus. Through discussions regarding the colonizing language of
the academy, as well as how white supremacy functions in our institution and beyond,
it became clear that we needed to, as a committee, be engaged in conversations with
one another about how we might engender change on this campus in the interest of social
justice and liberation.
Tier 1 grants are well developed with clear budget needs and deliverables. This tier
also has the highest requirements and expectations for the grant application.
Tier 2: Seed Grants
This new tier targets EAIDI-eligible projects that are not yet fully developed but
could become so with a “seed” investment of time and resources, or great ideas that
simply need less money. Tier 2 projects have lower requirements for grant applications,
which will hopefully encourage more applications and result in more EAIDI-related
activity. Again, proposals must demonstrate explicit engagement with the EAIDI principles.
Tier 3: EAIDI Rolling Discretionary Fund
Another NEW tier designed to encourage EAIDI-related projects. The EAIDI Committee,
through its chair, can approve small funding amounts to pay for or to reimburse (within
20 days) expenditures involving EAIDI-related activities for students or outside speakers/guests.
As a new initiative, the EAIDI Committee has started granting EAIDI Excellence Awards
to faculty in the College of Arts and Humanities whose teaching, research, and service
reflect and advance the principles of this committee. The nomination must highlight
research & scholarship, service, and pedagogy to be recognized and how these aspects
of their work align with the EAIDI principles.
*See RFP for full details on nomination requirements.
The call for submissions is generally announced in the Spring semester of each Academic
Year. You can find the full, and current RFP with instructions on how to apply in
our College's SharePoint site. If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to
reach out to the committee at EAIDI@wcupa.edu. We are here to help you develop a successful proposal for a successful project.
Past Project Features
Photography and Writing (PAW) Program
PAW is an innovative program that uses the teaching of photographic and art techniques
to strengthen self-expression and build writing skills during the summer, with a student
population of rising 5th-graders that has self-identified as ESL and/or new to the
US. Foundational to our work is reaching across student's’ experiences in various
contexts (families, schools, communities) to create relevant and rooted lessons. Our
organizational model creates tangible, sustainable connections between WCU and our
local school districts, allowing for communication between the various waypoints in
a student's journey between elementary school and college. PAW hires two undergraduate
mentors each summer to help run the program, to connect personally with the 5th-graders,
and to share positive, uplifting stories about life in college.
iCamp Program
iCamp Academy is a week-long residential summer media camp for Philadelphia High School
Students at WCU. iCamp Summer Academy invites high school students from Philadelphia,
to use their talents in digital media to facilitate change and shed light on community
development and social issues. iCamp offers a one of kind experience, that exposes
high school students to life on a college campus, connects artistic expression and
being a catalyst for change, and deepens the symbiotic relationship between WCU and
our region’s population and economic center. Four media tracks include: Video production,
Audio production, Web development, Game development.
Want to get involved?
Consider serving on the EAIDI Committee!
This committee within the College of Arts and Humanities thrives on the expertise
of faculty who have experience working closely with issues related to equity, access,
inclusion, and diversity. This committee could also be a good opportunity for faculty
who want to learn about and support equity and diversity in the college. Email EAIDI@wcupa.edu to learn how you can get involved!
Current Committee Members
Daniela Johannes (Co-Chair) Justin Sprague (Co-Chair) Jordin Clark Camilo Diaz Pino Joseph Miller Lucy Miller Taryn Myers Adebayo Oluwayomi Scotty Reifsnyder Ana Sanchez Julia Waddell
![[Student holding a camera in front of his face, preparing to take a photo]](/arts-humanities/images/pawCamp.jpg)
![[Two students looking at a computer screen and editing a video project]](/arts-humanities/images/iCampProgram.jpg)