Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement
We connect people with opportunities and resources so they may engage the world and pursue their dreams.
A University For All
We Are Building a Stronger Mississippi
Throughout the year, we offer opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the communities in our backyard and across the state.
We Ensure Everyone Has a Place
Experiences matter and all of us possess something unique. We know this. We take pride in welcoming everyone.
We Protect the Rights of All Students, Faculty, and Staff
Understand your rights to equal opportunity by reaching out to one of our offices or focus areas.
We Partner to Welcome People from Across the State and Around the World
We build leaders by maintaining a community of caring and sustaining a vibrant campus life through parnterships with on-campus offices.
We Strengthen UM's Mission Through Partnership
Mutually beneficial collaboration with external partners enriches learning, informs research, and empowers service.
We Invest in and Respond to People and Communities
We develop people and institutions by celebrating excellence, creating learning communities, fueling innovation, and responding to needs.
Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Educating the Future
Building Upon the Legacy of James Meredith
The integration of the University of Mississippi by James Meredith in 1962 is a pivotal moment in our history, and his courageous actions resonate across our community to this day. His example inspires our commitment to be a place where every community member feels welcome to pursue their dreams and flourish.
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Come Sit at the Longest Table
Each year we host a meal in the Circle that bring our community together to share in some southern fare and conversation
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Our Doors are Always Open
Get to know university leaders and share your ideas at the university's annual Open Doors event.
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Make the MOST of Your Summer
The Mississippi Outreach to Scholastic Talent (MOST) Conference, meticulously designed to be educational, empowering, and transformative, is dedicated to unlocking the untapped potential within Mississippi African-American high school seniors..
Learn more
Meet Our Team
Shawnboda Mead
- Vice Chancellor for Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement
Cade Smith
- Assistant Vice Chancellor for Access and Community Engagement
Lauren Jones
- Assistant Vice Chancellor, Access and Opportunity
Kimberly DeVries
- Assistant Vice Chancellor for Access and Compliance and Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance
Checkout the Offices within DAOCE
Center for Community Engagement
The Center for Community Engagement is the University of Mississippi’s dedicated unit focused on elevating, celebrating, and sustaining excellence in community engagement across all Colleges, units, and departments. We carry out this work using a highly collaborative work ethic that emphasizes co-creation and collaboration in project development and delivery
Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement
We support student success by fostering a welcoming campus community where all students can thrive. Through programs that promote access, retention, and engagement, the center enhances the academic experience and connects students to vital campus resources.
Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance
The University of Mississippi’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance (EORC) is responsible for compliance with federal laws and regulations pertaining to the fair treatment of faculty, staff, and students, which includes the application of Title IX and Title VII, and upholds equal employment opportunity to ensure equal access to the University.
Office of Student Disability Services
We lead the university in its commitment to recognize disability as a valued aspect of diversity, to embrace access as a matter of social justice, and to design more welcoming and inclusive environments.
Explore Our On-Campus Partners
Office of Global Engagement
We are responsible for the development, promotion, and support of all global engagement activities on campus. Our goal is the comprehensive internationalization of the university, and the development of our students, faculty, and staff as global citizens.
Office of Veteran and Military Services
We provide comprehensive resources to veterans, military, and dependents to aid in their overall success as Ole Miss students.
Community First Research Center for Wellbeing and Creative Achievement (CREW)
Community First Research Center for Wellbeing and Creative Achievement, or CREW, is a community-focused research center at the University of Mississippi that invites communities to reach out with their research and data needs to improve wellbeing and health.
Luckyday Scholars Program
Luckyday Scholars are engaged in four areas of success: scholarship, community, service, and leadership. Through robust programming and with support and encouragement from Luckyday program staff and student leaders, Luckyday Scholars enjoy a wealth of opportunities to engage and grow as servant leaders.
Office of Financial Aid
We are responsible for assisting students in navigating various financial aid options and providing guidance on scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs to make higher education accessible and affordable.
Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies
We offer students, faculty, staff, and visitors a gathering place, as well as an atmosphere of mutual encouragement and support for women of all ages and backgrounds.
News Around Campus
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi recognized accomplishments in community-engaged research, learning, service and scholarship by its students, faculty and staff members on Tuesday (April 16) during the annual Celebration of Service Awards.
These are the principles that guide us
Vision
A more accessible, engaged, and transformative university, community, and world.
Mission
The Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement (DAOCE) supports the University of Mississippi's mission by fostering partnerships, access, and engagement that cultivate a sense of community, enrich learning and development, enhance research, and ensure opportunities for all. DAOCE is dedicated to creating pathways and providing support so that everyone can contribute to and thrive in the UM community.
DAOCE offers a variety of programs and services that strengthen the University of Mississippi as a welcoming environment. These initiatives ensure that all students, faculty, staff, and community members have the opportunity to succeed in their academic and professional endeavors, improve their future prospects, and realize their full potential to contribute to the betterment of organizations, communities, and institutions.
Mutual Respect: Each person is inherently valuable, and we honor their dignity, recognizing that beliefs, ideas, and values will differ.
Access: We are committed to creating pathways and providing support to participation in life, learning, and work at UM.
Opportunity: We have a responsibility to provide the information and support necessary for all individuals to engage in and benefit from the transformative power of learning, research, and service at UM.
Learning and Development: We acknowledge the ongoing need for personal and professional growth, embracing new learning and skill development.
Collaboration: We believe in addressing complex problems through interdisciplinary partnerships within and beyond the university.
Responsibility: We hold ourselves accountable to the community and to one another.
Civic Leadership: We recognize our interconnected wellbeing and are dedicated to improving our community for all members.
Serve Mississippi: Ensuring the university better serves the citizens and communities of Mississippi, especially those from first-generation and lower socioeconomic strata.
Increase Access: Ensuring broad and inclusive access to higher education and the resources needed to pursue a degree or career at the university.
Lead Accessibility - Designing and implementing accommodations, services, activities, and experiences and removing barriers that allow people with disabilities to use, understand, and benefit from and participate in all aspects of society.
Foster Belonging: Cultivating a sense of community among students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Advance Engagement: Fostering active collaboration between students, employees, and community members in pursuit of excellence in learning, research, and service.
Ensure Compliance: Conducting investigations or reviews to determine if practices, programs, and conduct adhere to state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the fair treatment of faculty, staff, and students.
Promote Opportunities: Providing avenues for students, employees, and community members to enhance their lives and communities through learning, development, and work.
Encourage Dialogue: Facilitating respectful dialogue on challenging issues to enrich learning and development.
Cultivate Skills: Equipping individuals with valuable skills necessary for their future success.
Strengthen Communities: Partnering with and strengthen communities through economic and community development and service to Mississippi.
Access: Creating pathways and removing barriers so that all individuals can join, benefit from, and contribute to life, learning, research, and service at UM.
Accessibility: Designing and implementing accommodations, services, activities, and experiences and removing barriers that allow people with disabilities to use, understand, and benefit from and participate in all aspects of society.
Opportunity: Ensuring that all individuals have the information and support needed to benefit from the transformative power of learning, research, and service at UM.
Compliance: Ensuring that practices, programs, and conduct adhere to state and federal laws and regulations and UM policies pertaining to the fair treatment of faculty, staff, and students.
Community Engagement: Collaborating between UM and partnering communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity while fulfilling UM’s mission of scholarly learning, research, and service.
Partnership: Forming and sustaining an association between parties to undertake a shared, mutually beneficial action or endeavor.
Evaluating and aligning our plan
With the establishment of the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement, the university is evaluating and updating its Pathways to Equity plan. The review ensures alignment with the goals of fostering partnerships, access, and engagement that strengthen our sense of community, enrich learning and development, enhance research, and ensure opportunities for all. The university will share additional details once the review process and updates are finalized.