The Community, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Certificate Program provides a robust experience for University of Illinois System employees to engage in meaningful discussions, activities, curriculum, and projects to promote and support Community & Belonging. The program aims to educate about Community & Belonging, train individuals to be Community & Belonging allies and advocates and provide resources.

To attain a Community & Belonging, you must attend six training sessions and complete a Capstone Project. The certificate program is open to all University of Illinois System employees.

Community & Belonging Classes

Each class will be led by instructors who will guide you through a topic, with a specific focus on group discussion and engagement.

View the schedule and register for upcoming classes. 

Capstone Project

The capstone project is designed to allow you to take what you learned in the Community & Belonging classes and apply it to your working life. You will be given your choice of options to complete the project.

Examples include:

• Writing a reflection paper on what you learned in the trainings and how you can apply what you learned into your unit.
• Creating a Community & Belonging event or practice for your own work unit.
• Attending an approved Community & Belonging event in your community and discussing that event with your unit.

More details about the capstone project will be provided to you when you complete the required number of Community & Belonging courses.

Certificate

Once you have completed all required elements of the program, you will then be awarded an official System Offices Community, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Certificate to proudly display and you will be known as a “System Offices Community & Belonging Advocate”! Fortunately, the awarding of the certificate is not a final step. We will offer continuing education opportunities for you to stay engaged with Community & Belonging even after you receive the certificate.

Testimonials from Certificate Holders

• “I took the Community & Belonging program to gain a better understanding of biases and other beliefs, practices, one to be aware and find shortcomings in myself to correct, and to try to understand a few instances I experienced with my son-in-law, who is a person of color. The Community & Belonging program was rewarding, I recognized shortcomings in myself, which I have corrected.  It made me more aware of people who definitely show bias and prejudice. I appreciate the lessons learned in the Community & Belonging program, and I feel that I am a more aware person as a result of the courses. I appreciate the University offering this training.”
• “I have participated in or attended multiple Community, equity, inclusion, and belonging programs since I began working full-time at the University of Illinois in 2017. I’ve attended programs geared toward my field of scholarly publishing and those geared toward Illinois employees. I especially appreciated the Community & Belonging programming because it examined topics that I had not encountered in any other training. In reflecting on what I have taken from this program into my daily personal and professional life, I am especially grateful for learning about aspects of power, privilege, stereotypes, intergenerational communication, workplace bullying, and respectful workplaces. While this program is valuable for the Community & Belonging space, I really believe that all employees would benefit from this program because it will help them learn tools to be happier, more effective people and colleagues.”
• “Throughout the sessions I have attended, I have learned different ways to embrace diverse perspectives, foster equal treatment, and the importance of creating an inclusive work environment. However, overall, my biggest takeaway was an enhanced self-awareness as I gained insights into my own thought processes, life experiences, and how those things have shaped my interactions with others. I have always considered myself as someone who fully embraces community, equity, inclusion, and belonging, but after attending these sessions I have learned that there are still things that I can do to fully support those around me. Every person uniquely sees the world and similarly, has different knowledge perspectives and points of view. That is why community and inclusion is so important because it drives creativity and innovation in the workplace.”