Diversity Programs

Global Diversity Award

In 2005, the Global Diversity Council (GDC) developed the Global Diversity Award to reflect the importance of the work being done in our business units to build diversity, inclusion, and multicultural thinking at Covance. The award will recognize a business unit or corporate department that exemplifies achievement in promoting diversity initiatives and the goals of Covance's Compelling Offer. After almost two years of work, the first Global Diversity Award will be conferred for 2007.

The Global Diversity Award is further recognition that people are Covance's most valued asset. In particular, the award underscores the importance of a diverse workforce, which is often the source of new ideas, innovation, and leadership. Talented individuals from diverse backgrounds can help distinguish Covance from our competition and enable us to compete successfully in the global marketplace.

Covance Affinity Groups

Diversity Advisory Council

The Diversity Advisory Council based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Spring Mill, Pennsylvania is an employee-driven group that hosts many different diversity events within our Commercialization Business.

Multicultural Affinity Groups

The goal of Princeton's Multicultural Affinity Group is to recruit, promote, and retain diverse talent throughout Covance. The Affinity Group is an inclusive group of employees that seeks to understand and celebrate our differences and our similarities. Additionally, the network seeks to help make Covance a great place to work through diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism.

Global Women's Network

Covance established the Global Women's Network to support and empower the women of Covance to achieve professional success and personal well-being. The Global Women's Network works to enhance our workplace, contribute to the success of our company, and give back to our community, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. (Locations: Madison, WI; Princeton, NJ; Spring Mill, PA; Vienna, VA; Evansville, IN; and Maidenhead, UK.)

Mentoring Program

In May 2007, Covance's Office of Diversity and the Center for Training and Development launched the fourth year of Covance Mentoring. The program provides an opportunity for employees to apply for and participate in a mentoring relationship as either a mentor or a mentee. Human Resources leaders review applications and consider matches based on program criteria and applicants' interests, needs, and skills.

As a mentor you can share your experiences and wisdom to help a fellow employee reach his or her professional goals. As a mentee you can seek guidance and support in reaching your own professional goals. In either case, you will build a relationship, expand your professional network, and gain insight from another Covance employee. The program year begins with required training between mid-September and mid-October.

External Partnerships:

INROADS

As Covance works to advance its global diversity strategy and create a diverse work environment, INROADS strives to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry internships to better prepare them for corporate and community leadership. It was immensely gratifying when INROADS recently recognized Covance's work with the company during their INROADS/Central New Jersey Awards Banquet.

The banquet was a celebration for all Central New Jersey INROADS interns and their affiliate companies. Covance and its coordinators and interns were each praised for a job well done in prompting diversity, hard work, and the INROADS mission within our various communities.

Covance's goal is to provide our interns with real-world business experience. In turn, INROADS interns share with us their talent, enthusiasm, and new ideas. They provide Covance with important cultural and generational perspectives that help us stay current in the hyper-competitive global economy of the 21st century.

Posse

In the summer of 2007, Covance Commercialization began a partnership with Posse in support of their summer intern initiative.

The Posse Foundation is a comprehensive youth leadership and college success program that identifies, recruits, and trains outstanding youth leaders from the Washington, D.C. area public high schools. Posse sends these students in "Posses" - supportive, multicultural groups of ten students—to top tier colleges and universities. Through Posse, scholars receive five years of career support and training and job placement mentoring from their senior year of high school through college and beyond. Ninety percent of our scholars graduate from some of the most rigorous colleges in the country.