Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

We believe that fostering equity, inclusion and diversity is essential to achieving the education and research missions of the department.

When all faculty, staff and students have a voice and are encouraged to contribute, the core values of the department are strengthened. People from all backgrounds and perspectives have contributions to make, and the department is committed to encouraging and supporting the contributions of all its members who differ across race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, physical appearance, ideas, perspectives and values. Promoting equity, inclusion and diversity is an active process that requires ongoing commitment and self-reflection with regard to the departmental climate, education and research mission.

Departmental Climate

The Psychology Department strives to foster an affirming climate in which faculty, staff and students feel included and supported in efforts to accomplish their academic and professional goals. Valuing and celebrating diversity among all department members helps foster an environment in which all individuals develop, thrive and are productive. We take the following steps to create a departmental climate that encourages and supports contributions of all members:

• Forming the Committee for the Promotion of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Recruiting and retaining faculty, staff and students from underrepresented groups
• Welcoming open and supportive discussion regarding how to promote equity, diversity and inclusion
• Providing and promoting department-wide education about the lived experiences of and issues that disproportionately affect underrepresented groups
• Providing resources and information in response to events that affect underrepresented groups

Education

We are dedicated to incorporating multiple perspectives in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum and to ensuring that instructors, clinical supervisors and mentors are inclusive in their teaching and training of students. Through curriculum, clinical training and practice, and service learning opportunities, the department strives to expose students to the issues and assets experienced by various groups. These efforts are designed to increase students’ insight and sensitivity to various lived experiences and to allow them to actively engage with all people in society. Our goal is to provide a learning environment that fosters insight and sensitivity to academic, clinical and professional activities in the following ways:

• Creating an inclusive learning environment in which instructors, clinical supervisors and students can work to increase their cultural competence
• Empowering all individuals to actively engage in the learning process
• Helping instructors and clinical supervisors model and promote mutual respect for all individuals in the learning environment

Research

We are committed to conducting research that broadens scientific understanding of the influences of psychological processes in shaping everyday life. Regardless of one’s research focus, the department is committed to conducting research that is culturally competent and not exploitative of underrepresented communities. Examples include:

• Understanding the needs of underrepresented groups, as stated by members of those groups without engaging in tokenism (i.e., making only a symbolic effort to include members of underrepresented groups to appear diverse)
• Engaging in community outreach that is informed and respectful of the target populations
• Disseminating research findings to help better the lives of the communities involved
• Providing opportunities for faculty and students to learn how to conduct socially just research that promotes the well-being of underrepresented groups
• Promoting continued awareness of issues in research that affect underrepresented communities