Conference Overview

NCORE provides a leading forum for higher education professionals to explore and address the complexities of human differences—including cultural, social, and personal identities—and their profound impacts on access, opportunity, and success. Through dynamic sessions, collaborative discussions, and actionable strategies, NCORE equips participants to navigate these differences, create welcoming environments, and expand opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to thrive in academic settings.

NCORE provides a forum for critical dialogue and information exchange, supporting institutions in enhancing access, social development, education, and cross-cultural understanding.

The UVA Office of the Provost sponsored NCORE attendance for 10-12 undergraduate and graduate students from 2017 until 2019.  Multicultural Student Services managed all conference logistics, including the application process, coordination of conference travel and participation, and NCORE student projects.  Conference attendance was initally paused due to COVID-19, and plans to resume in 2023 were further delayed due to considerations around travel and school trips. We look forward to resuming the program soon.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the time of application and for the following academic year.

Expectations

• Must be enrolled full-time at the time of application and for the following academic year.
• Attend two mandatory pre-departure orientation meetings in April/May.
• Participate fully in conference sessions and group meetings.
• Complete an NCORE project during the upcoming academic year, with regular meetings with NCORE advisors.
• Assist in the publicity and recruitment process for future NCORE attendees.

Conference Logistics

• Registration, travel, and accommodations are fully covered.
• Meals will be reimbursed at the per diem rate for the designated conference location.
• Students are responsible for all other travel-related expenses.
• Gender-neutral restrooms will be available at the conference.
• Students will be placed in shared, gender-inclusive room assignments.
   

Student Experience

Overwhelmingly, students cited NCORE as a transformative experience that deepened their understanding of race, ethnicity, and social justice.  In addition to the acquisition of new knowledge and insights, NCORE provides an opportunity to meet students, faculty and administrators from colleges and universities across the country, and make lasting friendships with UVA peers.

NCORE 2019, Portland, Oregon

Front Row:  Abigail Molina-Calderon, Charmi Patel, Briana Smith, Lauren Faloni

Second Row: Kalea Obermeyer, Roberto Bryan III, Seshi Konu, Jasmine Mao, Juan Zazueta

NCORE 2019 Student - Faculty Dinner

NCORE 2018, New Orleans, LA  

Front Center: Brian Zuluaga
Second Row: Annelise Miranda, Raiya Al-Nsour, Allejah Kerr
Third Row: Revay Corbett, Emily Flynn, Zachary Schauffler, Nathan John, Nadir Siddiqui, Eileen Chen, Julia Phaltankar

NCORE 2018 student participants with UVA faculty/staff attendees.

Beignets at Cafe du Monde! 

 NCORE 2017, Fort Worth, Texas

Left to Right: Valencia Harvey (faculty/staff), Doreen Devasia, Daisy Mosqueda, Abigail Hoang, Kelsey Richardson, Vicki Gist (faculty/staff), Sarah Tran, Sindhura Elagandhala, Taylor Lamb                          
Not Pictured: Emily Flynn & Tracey Stewart

Student Testimonials

“If I had to sum up my NCORE experience with one quote it would be: “NCORE is like that family reunion that you didn’t even know you needed.”
Allejah Kerr | Arts and Sciences 2021

“The week I spent at NCORE was one of the most transformative weeks of my life.  One of the most impactful aspects of NCORE was the emphasis on community. Rarely before had I seen so many capable and successful Latinx people together, supporting each other.
Annelise Miranda | Arts and Sciences 2020

“Before the conference, I envisioned it to be a week of lectures, where I would quietly sit and comfortably absorb the knowledge from presenters. I was wrong. NCORE applied a combination of speeches and discussions, where attendees were encouraged to speak up and share their opinions. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, exchange knowledge, and learn through empathy. The title of the conference gives a façade of restricting topics to only race and ethnicity, but NCORE incorporated all aspects of the human experience. It consisted of sessions about women empowerment, first-generation student experience, LGBTQ experience, and more. It was an amalgam of ideals from respectable individuals who come together for the goal of achieving equality and supporting one another.”
Sarah Tran | Arts and Sciences 2018

“NCORE allowed me to narrow my interests and study whiteness in depth. I sought relevant workshops, lectures, and discussions and was blown away by what I found. On Tuesday, our first full day, I attended a day-long workshop on White Fragility, facilitated by Robin DiAngelo, the scholar who coined the very phrase. This was a phenomenal start that developed concepts I had previously encountered only vaguely. Through conversations with the people around me, I gained perspective on how people of color interpreted White fragility, a concept that refers to White people’s hesitancy and resistance to discussing race.  Altogether, my NCORE experience was an incredible catalyst for my scholarly interests.”  
Zachary Schauffler | Arts and Sciences 2019