Commitment to Inclusiveness, Equity, Diversity and Social Justice
Commitment to Inclusiveness, Equity, Diversity and Social Justice
Goal 2 of the UMD Strategic Plan
In 2011, UMD adopted a new Strategic Plan. One of the core values comprising the foundation for the University's mission is Inclusiveness, to "respect and embrace the diversity of individuals, perspectives, and ideas and strive for social justice." The core values guided the development of the Strategic Goals and related Action Items. Goal 2 of the UMD Strategic Plan is to "Create a positive and inclusive campus climate for all by advancing equity, diversity, and social justice." In the Fall 2011 semester, the Campus Change Team (CCT) was charged with Action Item #1: "Create a campus definition of equity, diversity, and social justice and share these understandings with all students, staff, and faculty." After numerous iterations and feedback obtained from the Campus Change Leadership Team and the Unit Change Teams, the CCT presents the central principles of the campus commitment that guided the development process and the definitions.
The Campus Commitment
UMD's Proposed Vision for 2020 is to integrate equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice into all aspects of campus life and learning through an intentional, clear, caring, and restorative manner. In doing so, we create a more just, integrated educational community that celebrates all human difference. In order to create an environment that is physically and psychologically safe for students, staff, and faculty, we must work to eliminate the structural and interpersonal barriers that limit the opportunities for underrepresented and underserved groups.
We recognize and understand that populations have been marginalized and intentionally excluded from equal opportunities, and that these groups have experienced discriminatory treatment.
We reject hatred and intolerance that harms diverse individuals or groups and threatens the inclusiveness of the UMD environment.
Through our decisions and our behaviors, we will embrace diversity, provide for equitable treatment, and strive for social justice for all students, staff, and faculty who learn, work, and live at UMD.
Definitions of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
Equity
Equity ensures opportunities and access to all that the University has to offer so that every person can achieve their full potential. Equitable treatment requires that the UMD campus community acknowledge diversity, recognizing and celebrating our differences, and every person takes a responsibility to eliminate the barriers that prevent the full participation of all people.
Diversity
UMD is an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful community of people with varying human characteristics, ideas, cultural practices, belief systems, worldviews, identities, experiences, and demographic differences. Diversity is an essential institutional and societal asset that is fundamental to all that we do and is the foundation of excellence. Diversity strengthens research, creativity, and innovative ideas that are essential to the future of Minnesota. In this diverse community, it is our responsibility to value and respect embrace all individuals and to serve all groups, regardless of protection by law, including but not limited to groups identified by:
● age
● appearance
● citizenship or national origin
● employment classification
● ethnicity
● gender
● gender identity or gender expressions
● language
● marital or family status
● race
● religion, faith, or spirituality
● sexual orientation
● socio-economic status
● veteran status
● visible or invisible disabilities
Social Justice
Every person is inherently worthy and deserves equitable and inclusive economic, political, and social rights and opportunities. Social justice requires that the entire University create a fair and equitable community that supports individuals and groups who face bias, discrimination, and exclusionary activities prohibiting them from achieving their full potential. The goal of social justice is to create an environment at UMD that acknowledges past injustices and provides physical and psychological security by facilitating full and equitable participation for all. Furthermore, social justice compels us to be vigilant, seek out, and eliminate systemic barriers that prevent the realization of a “positive and inclusive campus climate for all.”
Inclusion
UMD seeks to include all through the active and intentional engagement with diversity and equity in the curriculum and co-curriculum (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical), where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized.
Last updated Spring 2022/Approved by Chancellor Black June 2022