The UF ELI was founded in 1954, with the vision of fostering international peace and understanding. Now, some 70 years later, we are confronted with the reality that racism and injustice, both implicit and overt, continue to fester in the U.S. and the world. We grieve with families, the nation, and the world for Black lives taken by racism and injustice. We decry the systemic racism and injustice that has allowed this to happen. We decry the systemic inequalities that allow a pandemic to claim the lives of the BIPOC community in disproportionate numbers. We decry the carefully calculated systemic inequalities, both historic and actively pursued today, that raise greater barriers to the vote of BIPOC individuals. We, as an ELI family, recommit ourselves today to our vision of fostering a climate of trust, peace and international understanding for all members of our community. We recommit ourselves today to providing a haven for all, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, social status, gender identity or sexual orientation. We recommit ourselves today to taking whatever small actions we can, as individuals and a program, to actively root out racism and work towards true justice for all. With faculty, staff, language assistants, and students of every creed, identity, and nation, together, we can surely make some small difference. We hope you will join us.
Spring 2021 updated Values Statement and renewed Commitment to DE&I
ELI Values Statement
We are a community of meaningful interpersonal, intercultural, and international relationships which supports the well-being, camaraderie, and collegiality of its students, staff and external partners.
We promote connection through acceptance, understanding through experience, and richness through diversity.
We value active, intentional, collaborative, ongoing learning among students, staff, and faculty in a supportive environment of growth, accountability, reflection, and development.
We value respect for our diverse members and serve as a space for open communication and learning, where students, faculty, and staff are free to express themselves and their ideas in keeping with the ELI Vision of creating a world of trust, peace, and international understanding.
ELI Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We strive to co-create an educational and professional community that welcomes all of our members, regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality, creed, social status, disability identity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We serve with integrity as an example of the greater mission of UF to “create the broadly diverse environment necessary to foster multi-cultural skills and perspectives.” We continually dedicate ourselves to making decisions in an equitable, honest, and transparent way.