Student Advocacy & Inclusion

Our office was created to nurture a humanistic environment honoring the values of integrity, honesty, respect, fairness, cooperation and professionalism.

UFCD recently created a new “IDEA Workgroup” to actively foster growth in the areas of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. To learn more, please review our initiatives below.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access Initiatives

From Dean Garcia: Social & Racial Justice efforts

UF College of Dentistry

Antidiscrimination Statement

The University of Florida and the University of Florida College of Dentistry are firmly committed to fostering an environment free from discrimination. The college values human dignity, racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, and equality of opportunity.

UF College of Dentistry

#Academics4BlackLives

We are committed to intervening against anti-Black racism in academia and, in turn, enhancing the safety and wellness of our Black students, staff, faculty, residents, alumni and our community members. There has been a lot to absorb over the last several months with events unfolding across the nation related to racism and social injustice. Many in our college feel the impact firsthand in both large and small ways. We encourage you to take time to explore how you might promote Black wellness given your roles and environmental contexts. We face an immense, entrenched challenge, but each one of us has the power to affect change; to listen, and learn. The time to act is now.

Our Office

student advocacy & Inclusion

DMD Student Resources

Our resources include tutoring, counseling services, accommodations, mentorship programs and more.

student Advocacy & Inclusion

Student Leadership

Check out the student leadership for the UF College of Dentistry’s classes.

student Advocacy & INCLUSION

Student Organizations

The College of Dentistry is home to many national and college-based student organizations. Be sure to check out the ample opportunities.

student Advocacy & Inclusion

Prospective Student Programs

View our events and workshops for prospective students, including the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP).

Our Vision

To create a student body and community of scholars that reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Florida and the United States.

With our society changing inexorably and embracing cultural diversity, no challenge exists or has greater importance in higher education and dental education than the challenge of integrating students and faculty from diverse cultural and ethnic minority groups. The presence of these students and faculty enriches the university community, offers opportunity for robust academic dialogue, contributes to better teaching and research, and ultimately leads to improved quality of patient care for our state. UF defines diversity as broad diversity, which means all aspects of individuals that contribute to a robust academic environment including experience, perspectives, disciplines, geographic background, talent, family socioeconomic background, disability, ethnicity, race, gender and other characteristics.

The university and its components benefit from the richness of relationships with a multicultural student body, faculty, and staff who can learn from one another. Such diversity empowers and inspires respect and understanding within the UF College of Dentistry family.

Excellence in Diversity | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award Recipient

UFCD is proud to be a seven-time recipient of the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED Award. In 2015 UFCD was a recipient of the HEED Award, and has received the Health Professions HEED Award every year since its inception.