Defining Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At the University of Michigan, our dedication to academic excellence for the public good is inseparable from our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
We know that talent is distributed across all communities, but opportunity is not. Cultivating a diverse campus community – including removing barriers to higher education access – enables the types of culturally and intellectually rich learning and working environments necessary for a world-class education, catalyzing new knowledge production and innovations, and developing solutions that positively impact society. In order to best nurture and benefit from a diverse campus community, we must create and sustain the conditions of equity and inclusion that allow all campus members to participate and thrive.
DIVERSITY
Diversity broadly represents the variety of identities, perspectives, and experiences that individuals collectively bring to an environment. Beyond representation, diversity implies an appreciation, respect, and acknowledgment of the unique attributes that each individual brings to our institution. Many decades of research demonstrate how bringing together a community with a diversity of experiences and perspectives enhances innovation, creativity and more effective problem-solving. At U-M, we commit to increasing diversity, which is expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origins, religious commitments, age, disability status, and political perspective.
EQUITY
Equity is a principle that centers on creating systems, organizations, and societies that are fair and just. It involves first recognizing when disadvantages and barriers exist, and then allocating resources and support to ensure equal access and opportunities for all. The pursuit of equity disrupts historical patterns of inequality and exclusion, dismantles barriers to advancement, and ends any systematic bias and discrimination against people based on their identity and background. The ultimate goal of equity is to maintain an organization where everyone has the chance to achieve their full potential and thrive. At U-M, we commit to working actively to challenge and respond to bias, harassment and discrimination. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight or veteran status.
INCLUSION
Inclusion involves active, intentional, and ongoing efforts to create environments where all individuals are welcomed, feel a sense of belonging, and are respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. Inclusion means accommodating different needs and perspectives. An inclusive culture embraces and celebrates differences, promotes open and respectful dialogue, and empowers individuals to bring their authentic selves to the table without fear of discrimination or marginalization. At U-M, we commit to pursuing deliberate efforts to ensure that our campus is a place where differences are welcomed, where different perspectives are respectfully heard, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging and inclusion. We know that by building a critical mass of diverse groups on campus and creating a vibrant climate of inclusiveness, we can more effectively leverage the resources of diversity to advance our collective capabilities.
At U-M, consistent with our value for diverse views, perspectives and expressions, we honor, respect, and support the different ways that our different campus community members, offices, units, and programs have amplified, named and called out these important areas and concepts. In all cases, all of these concepts should be linked, connected to, and integral to how we think about and work on advancing a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and just world.
The U-M DEI strategic plan framework and definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion are inclusive of and/or complementary to a number of important concepts, values, and goals: