In the 2023-24 academic year, the Sounding Board for the Faculty Diversity Office (FDO) was established. The board has since successfully brought together students and staff from across the faculty to discuss and inform FGw Diversity Office plans and policies. The Sounding Board supports the FDO in various ways, for example by creating working groups for areas that need diversity and inclusion (D&I) attention, such as student experience, and by providing feedback on the HR selection committee guidelines to make hiring practices more inclusive.

 In 2025, the Compensated Core (CC) became a part of that volunteer group. The CC consists of colleagues and students from across the faculty who take on additional responsibilities and projects, for which they receive compensation.

The Faculty Diversity Office Sounding Board consists of:

1. A compensated core group

The compensated core group consists of 9 members that meet regularly and have specific responsibilities within the sounding board. This working group:

• Participates in Working Groups that focus on DO priorities, and work to realize those priorities;
• Advises on proposed policies;
• Advises on current policy documents and reports;
• Helps identify bottlenecks/knelpunten regarding DO priority areas (e.g. accessibility)
• Proposes policies and ideas to realize our priorities

Members of the core group will be compensated. Postdocs, PhD students, and BA and MA students will receive a lump sum of €450, paid in two installments during the calendar year. Core group members will receive a formal letter of appointment from the Diversity Office. 

2. A voluntary group

This larger group consists of volunteers who participate in the general Sounding Board meetings. These meetings take place 3 to 4 times per academic year for two hours each time, to advise on policy developments put forward by the Faculty Diversity Officer. Volunteer members are not required to attend meetings but are expected to attend at least two.

Become a Sounding Board member

Applying for the compensated core group

The Sounding Board is looking for 3 new members for its compensated core. Those interested in becoming a core member can learn more about the position and apply following the instructions outlined in the application guidelines (pdf). The application consists of a CV (max 2 pages) and the applicant’s brief responses to three questions. 

Applicants must be currently employed by or enrolled at the FGw and should expect to remain so through 31 August 2027. 

Applying for the voluntary group

Those interested in becoming a voluntary member can apply by sending an email to inclusion-fgw@uva.nlExternal link. Please submit your name, role within the faculty (e.g. BA student) and a short motivation of 4 to 5 sentences outlining why you wish to join the voluntary group of the Sounding Board.

Deadline: 1 February

All applications must be submitted no later than 17:00 on Sunday 1 February 2026. If you have any questions about the Sounding Board or the application process, please contact Faculty Diversity Officer Kristine Johanson at inclusion-fgw@uva.nlExternal link.