BUSINESS The Vision Council Expands Its Scholarship Program and Will Address DE&I Issues at Its Summit By Staff Sunday, November 26, 2023 12:54 AM RELATED CONTENT Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Latinos en Optometry Builds a Range of Resources and Events Across the ECP and Patient Community New England College of Optometry Deepens Its DE&I Commitments, Partnerships and Sponsored Pathways Black EyeCare Perspective Expands Partnerships and Outreach to Future Black Optometrists SUNY College of Optometry Expands Its DE&I Initiatives Within the Profession and Student Community Transitions Diversity Advisory Board Widens Its Initiatives VSP Vision Expands Awareness of DEI Issues Inside and Outside Its Organization The Vision Council is committed to supporting a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry. Opening Your Eyes: The Vision Council Scholarship Fund supports a pathway into the optical industry for students from under-represented communities. Covering tuition, certification and exam fees, the Fund’s scholarships support students pursuing an associate degree in ophthalmic dispensing at participating schools within the National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS.) Since its launch in 2021, The Vision Council has provided more than 25 students with scholarships covering the entire cost of their opticianry program. Participating schools include: • Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Mass.) • Broward College (Fla.) • Camden County College (N.J.) • Cuyahoga Community College (Ohio) • Daytona State College (Fla.) • Durham Technical Community College (N.C.) • Erie Community College (N.Y.) • Essex County College (N.J.) • Georgia Piedmont Community College (Georgia) • Hillsborough Community College (Fla.) • Miami Dade College (Fla.) • Middlesex Community College (Conn.) • New York City College of Technology (N.Y.) • Raritan Valley Community College (N.J.) • Reynolds Community College (Va.) • Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (Georgia) • Ogeechee Technical College (Georgia) • Southwestern Community College (N.C.) Upon each student’s graduation, The Vision Council provides additional support to scholarship recipients getting their start in the industry and provides free registration and discounted continuing education at both Vision Expo East and West and complimentary National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) and Opticians Association of America (OAA) membership for the first year following graduation. In January 2023, TVC hosted a DE&I-focused breakout session at the 2023 Executive Summit in Austin with Marie Deveaux, “Creating Belonging.” A PDF of those points is available here. Coming up in January at The Vision Council 2024 Executive Summit there will be a special DE&I panel discussion as well; participants are still being finalized.