Definitions & Citations: A Campus Guide for DEI Terms

The following guide provides definitions and points of reference to create a common understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion work as it relates to action planning at the  to create a more inclusive campus for all members of the Ƶ Boulder community.

Diversity

Diversity refers to the numerical representation of faculty, staff and students who hold individual differences (e.g., personality, learning styles and life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability, and cultural, political, religious or other affiliations) with special focus on historically minoritized identities ().

Equity

Equity requires attention to disparate impact, differential access, opportunities afforded to various communities, and structural and systemic barriers that limit potential and possibilities ().

Inclusion

Inclusion refers to the active, intentional and ongoing engagement with diversity––in decision-making, sense-making, curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural and geographical) with which individuals might connect––in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions ().

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Intersectional addresses the complex, systemic and cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism and classism) combine, overlap or intersect, especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups ().

Organizational Development

Organizational Development is a critical and science-based process that helps organizations build their capacity to change and achieve greater effectiveness by developing, improving, and reinforcing strategies, structures and processes ().

Social Justice

Social Justice “... is both a process and a goal. The goal of social justice is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable, and all members are psychologically and physically safe and secure.” ()

References

  • Bell, L. A. (2013). Theoretical foundations. In M. Adams, W. J. Blumenfeld, C. Castañeda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, & X. Zúñiga (Eds.), (3rd ed., pp. 21- 25). Routledge. 
  • Clayton-Pedersen, A. R., McTighe Musil, C., & O’Neill, N. (2008). . CiteSeerX. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  • Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2009). (9th ed.). South-Western Cengage Learning
  • DeLuca Fernández, S., & Wong, A. W. (2020). . Penn State’s Strategic Plan. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  • Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Intersectionality. In . Retrieved April 19, 2022.