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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in HDFS

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The Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) recognizes that higher education systems have historically operated to preclude equity and undermined a sense of belonging for many students, staff, and faculty. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). We value and welcome diversity in all its forms including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity and expression, age, culture, health, disability, nationality, immigration status, immigrant background, language, religion, spirituality, and socio-economic status. As scholars, educators, and service providers in an interdisciplinary department, we have a responsibility to identify and acknowledge historical and current injustices that minoritized individuals and families face and advocate for change in and outside of our department.

a) Together, we pledge to foster an equitable and inclusive department for all of its members by:

    1. cultivating a departmental culture in which all minoritized students, faculty, and staff feel safe, valued, and free of the burdens placed on them because of their group membership,
    2. identifying and revising existing, and/or developing new policies, practices, and priorities that reflect our departmental commitment to DEIJ.

b) We will ensure the values of DEIJ remain a priority through ongoing initiatives in the HDFS Strategic Plan.

c) As a department, we will continue to demonstrate and strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice through our research, teaching, mentoring, and service activities—acting as a model for our university, state, region, and nation.

To maintain and deepen the department’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, we have established a departmental DEIJ committee of faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students. The committee meets monthly throughout the academic year and reviews existing, and proposes new policies, practices, and departmental priorities. The committee works with the departmental strategic planning process to advocate that DEIJ principles are woven into all aspects of research, teaching and service.