OACES: Opportunity, Access, Community Engagement, and Support - College of Information (INFO)

OACES: Opportunity, Access, Community Engagement, and Support

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OACES at the College of Information

The OACES team and initiative at the College of Information (INFO) champions opportunity and access, nurtures community engagements and delivers compassionate support. OACES supports students, faculty and staff in creating inclusive academic and professional pathways that foster success, well-being and belonging. The INFO College founded OACES as part of its commitment to building a welcoming environment where learning, collaboration and innovation flourish for all.

room of people sitting at tables on their laptops

UMD’s third annual Data Challenge (Photo by Jelena Dakovic)

OACES Values

The OACES team strives to achieve its mission by embracing and modeling core values:

Opportunity & Access

We are committed to removing barriers and expanding pathways that ensure everyone has equitable access to education, information, and resources.

Community Engagement & Collaboration

We support building authentic partnerships within and beyond our college, with an emphasis on utilizing information and technology for good.

Compassionate Support

We approach our work with empathy, care, and respect, recognizing the unique journeys and needs of students, faculty, staff.

Inclusion & Belonging

We value diversity in all its forms and intentionally create environments where every person feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Success & Well-Being

We affirm that academic and professional success must be balanced with personal well-being, and we support practices that sustain both.

Investing In the INFO Community

Through OACES, the INFO College seeks to continually expand the range of people who join not only the field of librarianship, but the growing fields of information and digital technology. This requires understanding and investing in the college community.

 
2800+ Students
From 61 Countries around the Globe Create a Vibrant Student Culture
 
Students Identify As
Male (56%), Female (43%), Other (1%)
 
Students Identify As
Asian (29%), Black (24%), White (22%), Hispanic/Latino (9%), Biracial (4%), Unknown/Other (12%)
 
150+ Staff & Faculty
From Across Disciplines and Professions Fuel Innovation and Collaboration
Students

The INFO College supports students from all backgrounds – BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veteran, disabled, religious, rural, international, first generation, etc. – as they navigate their academic careers.

At INFO, supporting students means:

  • Understanding each student comes into the INFO College with unique lived experiences and needs.
  • Understanding some students may not have had access to coding, computing, or advanced math in high school and need to be connected to additional resources that allow them to become successful information professionals.
  • Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to technology for students to engage in coursework.
  • Making sure students feel seen, respected, and included in their classes and in their college community.
  • Making sure students have access to the resources and support they need to become successful self-advocates.
Staff

The INFO College relies on a diverse range of professional staff to keep us running smoothly. Staff assist in coordinating and managing grant proposals and research funds, advise undergraduate and graduate students, assist in the hiring and onboarding of new faculty and staff, support research centers, and much more.

The INFO College works with staff to make sure that:

  • They have access to professional development opportunities to meet their career goals.
  • Searches for open positions, and reviews for current employees, are fair and equitable.
  • Staff are able to access college, campus, and state resources to support them as both employees and valued members of the college community.
Faculty

The INFO College has faculty ranging from social theorists to cyber security experts to human-computer interaction innovators. They are engaged in wide-ranging research that explores how information and digital technologies can be used to either make the world a better place or exacerbate existing inequities. They work closely with the student community to help train future information professionals and researchers.

The INFO College works with faculty to make sure that:

  • They are prepared to navigate difficult conversations that may arise in the classroom.
  • New faculty are paired with mentors who will help connect them with resources and opportunities to grow as scholars and instructors.
  • Academic freedom is safeguarded in both instructional materials and research.

 

Student Resources Fac/Staff Resources