SMART Workshop Series
Each year, the Division provides a series of interactive, 75-minute workshops designed to get learners thinking about the fundamentals of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work at our institutions. These workshops provide opportunities to gain knowledge, build community, and practice skills alongside your peers to advance your DEI practice and grow both personally and professionally.
Click on a topic below to view dates and register, or request programming for your specific unit or department by filling out the VCU Inclusive Excellence Request Form.
Upcoming Workshops
Social Identity: Understanding self & society
Learn about the structural roots of social identities, with a focus on group membership, individual agency, and strategies for relating to one another in context.
Wednesday, September 25, at 12:00pm
Thursday, September 26, at 12:30pm
Mindset Matters: Addressing common hesitancies in our inclusion work
This workshop considers common misconceptions around DEI work and ways we can approach it with more vigor and authenticity. Learners will come away with strategies for making their DEI work more clear and compelling for a wider group of participants.
Tuesday, October 15, at 3:30pm
Wednesday, October 16, at 12:00pm
Thursday, October 17, at 12:30pm
Accessibility & Accommodation: Building barrier-free environments for all to succeed
Apply a social justice framework to access issues and gain essential tools for creating spaces—virtual or in-person—that are inclusive, accessible, and open to all.
Tuesday, November 19, at 3:30pm
Wednesday, November 20, at 12:00pm
Thursday, November 21, at 12:30pm
Improving Relationships: Mitigating bias, fostering healthy interactions across difference
Consider foundational strategies for communicating across difference, preventing harm, and fostering cultures of respect and inclusion. The Social Identity workshop is strongly suggested as a pre-requisite.
Tuesday, February 4, at 3:30pm
Wednesday, February 5, at 12:00pm
Thursday, February 6, at 12:30pm
Transformation: Moving beyond inclusion, making structural change in our work
Move from “addition” to “transformation” in your inclusion work, deconstructing existing practices and working with peers to build something new.
Tuesday, March 4, at 3:30pm
Wednesday, March 5, at 12:00pm
Thursday, March 6, at 12:30pm
Leadership training for supervisors and managers at all levels
Walking the Talk: Centering values in institutional & team leadership
When it comes to leadership, we sometimes fall back on what we know, regardless of our values. In this workshop, participants will come away with concrete strategies for translating inclusive and team-centered values into practice.
Monday, November 11, at 3:00pm
Tuesday, December 3, at 3:30pm
Wednesday, February 12, at 12:00pm
Thursday, April 10, at 3:30pm