What to Include in a Diversity Statement

Now it`s time for the hard part. You need to sort through everything you`ve written in steps two and three to find a consistent message for your diversity statement. Here you write the story of your life. Well, in part anyway. Your experiences, expectations and identities as human beings influence your perspective on diversity. In addition, they potentially provide important context for the reader to fully understand your commitment and solutions. Since the fourth step is review, write down any potentially important background information that comes to mind. 00:23 Diversity statements are an invitation to reflect on EDI work I can assure you that many faculty members truly care about diversity and equity and will read your statement carefully. I was in the room when each finalist`s diversity statement was reviewed for a job search. Candidates who submitted strong statements wrote about their experiences teaching first-generation students, their involvement in LGBTQ student groups, their experiences teaching in inner-city high schools, and their awareness of how systemic inequalities affect students` ability to excel. Candidates mentioned his teaching and activism, and highlighted his commitment to diversity and equity in higher education. The language used by universities and colleges when requesting a diversity statement varies widely. Here are some examples from job postings published during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Format your diversity statement the same way you format your personal statement, but the last line of your header should be “diversity statement” instead of “personal statement.” Here are four steps you can take to create a diversity statement. The first three steps guide the integration of three key elements into a compelling statement: your background, what motivates your commitment to diversity, and how you demonstrate that commitment. The final step includes resources and suggestions for refining your return to include in your job package. Keep in mind that you need to be flexible in writing this statement, both in how you define diversity, as discussed above, and in how you have encountered diversity throughout your career. Here are some strategies to demystify expectations for diversity statements. Qualified applicants must submit a research statement and a diversity statement (describing how to incorporate diversity into your teaching, research, and/or service). Statements on teaching, research and diversity should be limited to two pages with a simple distance. Being a Mexican American is a valid diversity factor, but it`s not a specific problem. Don`t write about the Mexican-American “experience”; Write about your experience. The same goes for any essay on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc. To tailor a diversity statement to a specific institution, you need to think about your audience`s concerns and how your approach to diversity fits into the broader mission of the university and department.

Essentially, this essay allows you to communicate how you might serve students at your new university in a slightly different way than your teaching statement and cover letter. Here are some questions you might consider: Applicants must submit a statement explaining how their teaching at the college will contribute to a culture of inclusion and diversity on campus. Non-formal education includes basic adult education, adult literacy or preparation for school equivalence. In non-formal education, a person (who is not in school) can learn literacy, other basic skills or vocational skills. Homeschooling, individualized instruction (e.g. programmed learning), distance learning, and computer-assisted instruction are other options. [3] Applicants may have life and educational experience, external work experience, and/or cultural and communication skills that can contribute to broader diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.