What is meant by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
Diversity: The variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more (from UC Regents Policy: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4400.html). Many institutions of higher education focus on groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in top tier research institutions, including women and certain minority groups (including African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans).
Equity: As opposed to equality, where everyone receives the same support regardless of circumstance, equity focuses on fair treatment, and access to supports and opportunities necessary for advancement and success. Equity acknowledges structural issues and barriers such as racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, and sexual harassment that have prevented the full participation of individuals from marginalized groups.
Inclusion: The proactive effort through personal actions, programs, and policies to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, respected, supported, and valued.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources
Guidelines for Applicants - from the Committee on Affirmative Action and Diversity (CAAD)
UCSC Starting Rubric to Assess Candidate Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Assessed in Three Categories: Awareness, Experience, and Future Plans at UCSC
Awareness of and ability to articulate the challenges and barriers faced by traditionally underrepresented groups.
Experience (commensurate to career stage) of activities that reduce barriers in education or research for traditionally underrepresented groups.
Future Plans for activities and work that will contribute to UC Santa Cruz’s mission to embrace diversity in all its forms and strive for an inclusive community that fosters an open, enlightened and productive environment.
Awareness
- Knowledge of, experience with, and interest in dimensions of diversity that result from different identities, such as ethnic, socioeconomics, racial, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural differences.
- Familiarity with demographic data related to diversity in higher education.
- Fluency with discussing diversity-related issues.
- Understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented individuals, and the need to identify and eliminate barriers to their full and equitable participation and advancement.
Experience and Future Plans
Some candidates may not have substantial past activities. If that is the case, an alternative is to focus on future plans in the statement.
Candidates with substantial past activities may focus on those. If the current activities are applicable for continuation, please provide some discussion for how those could continue into the future if appointed at UCSC.
While this is not an exhaustive list, some experience and future plans for contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion might contain the following.
Teaching
- Strategies to create inclusive and welcoming teaching environments for all underrepresented students
- Strategies to encourage both critical thinking and respectful dialogue in the classroom
- Using new pedagogies and classroom strategies to advance equity and inclusion
Research/Professional Work
- Inclusive and respectful research and work environments
- Mentoring and supporting the advancement and professional development of underrepresented students or postdocs
- Research focused on underserved communities
Service/Professional Activities
- Outreach activities designed to remove barriers and to increase the participation of individuals from underrepresented groups
- Workshops and activities that help build multicultural competencies and create inclusive climates
- Supporting student organizations that serve underrepresented groups
- Participation with professional or scientific associations or meetings that aim to increase diversity or address the needs of underrepresented students
- Serving on university or college committees related to equity and inclusion, or preventing sexual harassment and sexual violence
