Diversity and Equity Framework
This framework is designed to increase diversity awareness and help us work towards greater equity and social justice in our university campus and the communities we serve. The framework is designed for faculty, staff, students, and administrators. We will pursue the following five broad goals and encourage their inclusion in all of our professional activities, teaching, learning, research, and service.
- Recognition of Human Diversity
Recognition of Human Diversity
Understand the main diversity categories, and that each individual is unique.
- Understand the major categories of diversity including the following: race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disability/exceptionality, linguistics, culture, economics, philosophy, religion, and politics.
- Develop knowledge of key historical and contemporary developments of diverse groups within the contexts of education and educational attainment, social organizations, cultural factors, and personal experiences.
- Vigilance About Personal Biases
Vigilance About Personal Biases
Be vigilant about personal biases. We will:
- Understand our socio-cultural roots, cultural assumptions, biases, privileges, and cultural norms.
- Understand the notions of cultural relativism versus ethical relativism.
- Be able to model empathy and understanding.
- Understand the concepts of unconscious bias and institutional discrimination.
- Develop the habits and skills of self-reflection – on our biases in our professional and academic practices.
- Develop a plan for bias-awareness and action to reduce its effects.
Strategies
- Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Curriculum
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Curriculum
Because students are unique and diverse, we need to teach in culturally responsive ways.
- Develop the skills to analyze curriculum for multiple perspectives in the subject matter.
- Develop culturally responsive curricula wherever possible.
- Modify our instruction to make our pedagogy cultural responsive to all students.
- Develop a “tool kit” of various methods of instruction and to be able to teach topics in different ways as needed to assure students’ understanding.
- Understand the concept of differentiated instruction.
- Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness
Create inclusive classrooms, professional settings, and school communities. We will:
- Develop habits and skills of learning about our students’ cultural heritage, their families and communities.
- Develop skills for teaching tolerance and the values of a pluralistic society.
- Create an environment open to differences and intolerant to harassment, welcoming diversity through a combination of inclusive instruction, professional practices, and relevant community connections.
- Advocacy
Advocacy
Advocate changes and compensate for institutional discrimination.
- Understand the concept of institutional discrimination.
- Develop habits and skills of analyzing policies, practices, and discourses of institutional discrimination.
- Develop strategies to address institutional discrimination.
- Initiate feasible change within our classrooms, schools, professional organizations, and professional environments to compensate for and reduce institutional discrimination.
