Advisory to the Director of the Museum, the Florida Museum and Department of Natural History at the Florida Museum IDEA Committees collaborate with other internal and external groups to cultivate a richer, more inclusive, and equitable experience for students, employees, and visitors by helping the Museum support, respond to, and reflect on the diversity existing in the many distinct communities it serves.

Mission

The IDEA Committee’s missions are to support inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility throughout the Museum and Department by promoting education, and awareness. Understanding the Museum is a workplace and community space, the IDEA Committees are working to build a welcoming, creative, and collaborative space for all employees, students, faculty, volunteers, and visitors. The Committees work within the Museum’s own Departments, Institutes, and Centers; with UF Colleges, Departments, and Organizations; and various stakeholders and community representatives for the purpose of embedding the IDEA values into the Museum’s culture. The IDEA Committees are responsible for making recommendations to the Chair of the Department and Director of the Museum on best practices for supporting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility initiatives.

How do we do this?

Understanding that this work is ongoing, the IDEA Committees are committed to adaptation – responding to the changing needs and priorities of the Natural History Department, Museum, University of Florida, and society in general. Our current overarching goals include:

Florida Museum Statement on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility

The Florida Museum and its Department of Natural History are committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility as core values in our research, collections, exhibitions, and programming. These values are critical to the ongoing work of the Museum in promoting the understanding of cultural heritage, the natural world, and preservation of that knowledge for the future. We seek to demonstrate this commitment by creating an inclusive environment that values, welcomes, and supports all students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors. We recognize strength in our differences and seek to recognize, engage, and reflect the diverse communities we serve. We are committed to conducting ongoing, self-reflection and evaluation that is necessary to continue to improve our ability to serve historically underrepresented audiences within the greater Gainesville community and beyond.

Museum IDEA Committee Members:

University Resources Available:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Your UF Employee Assistance Program offers someone to talk to and resources to consult whenever and wherever you need them. All UF faculty, staff, graduate assistants, non-student OPS employees, house staff/residents, and postdoc associates as well as their household members are eligible to receive services. Any contact you have with the EAP will remain confidential. UF employees and each member of their household may request up to six free counseling visits per person, per event, per calendar year. Highly trained clinicians will listen to your concerns and help you and our family member with any issues.

To schedule an appointment with the EAP, call (833) 306-0103. Your toll-free number gives you direct, 24/7 access to a licensed counselor. You will be asked for your name, employer name, address, phone number and date of birth. Online: guidanceresources.com or via the App: GuidanceNow. Web ID: UFEAP. This link will take you to a non-UF website. If it is your first time visiting, click the Register tab and enter “UFEAP” in the Organization Web ID field. You will create a unique user ID and password, which will ensure confidentiality. You will not use your Gatorlink username and password.

• UFHR – Employee Relations (ER): The ER website offers information detailing how an employee may file a complaint against another UF employee who may be violating UF regulations or policies or engaging in misconduct. ER is happy to answer any questions you may have, but you may also find helpful the process description, filing options, and FAQs posted on the ER website.
• Ombuds for Staff and Faculty: The University Ombuds is a private, impartial, informal, and independent resource that provides informal conflict resolution and problem-solving services to University of Florida staff and faculty. The Office of the Ombuds does not provide legal advice, nor does it take the place of any formal process that would normally be available to staff and faculty of the University community. Rather, the Ombuds is a source of information and provides assistance in answering questions regarding University processes and regulations, informal resolution procedures, formal grievance procedures, strategic and problem solving and analysis. Visiting the Office of the Ombuds is voluntary and allows staff and faculty to discuss and work through issues related to their employment in an informal and private setting prior to taking any formal action. The Ombuds for Staff and faculty, Mr. Ronald L. Anderson, (352) 392-1308 or email randerson@aa.ufl.edu.

Leave-a-comment:

Staff, students, and faculty in the Florida Museum can make suggestions or comment on practices, policies, and procedures for promoting a more inclusive, diverse and equitable community. All feedback is anonymous. Messages are sent to Amy Hester, co-chair of the FM IDEA Committee.

Instances of discrimination, harassment and bias with identifying details should not be reported here.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to the Natural History Department IDEA Committee 2020/2021 members Nicole Fuller, Adania Flemming, Lillian Hendrick, Michelle LeFebvre, Steven Manchester, Caroline Storer, and Shamindri Tennakoon for sharing original drafts the IDEA Mission and Statements for the Department, which was modified for this FM-wide IDEA page.