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Diversity statements for faculty job applications

The Purpose of a Diversity Statement

The purpose of a diversity statement is to communicate how you have contributed, or will contribute, to diversity, equity, and inclusion work in your academic life. In order to write an effective diversity statement for academic applications, it is helpful to be familiar with the types of diversity goals and initiatives that different academic institutions have. Many universities have specific websites that focus on their diversity initiatives, which can be helpful in figuring out their priorities. For example, here is Penn’s page: https://www.upenn.edu/life-at-penn/diversity.

We recommend using some of the language you see in these pages to describe your own perspectives on diversity, since sharing common themes can make your statement more relevant to the search committee. Some schools that request diversity statements also provide clear instructions on how these should be written, and it makes sense to follow these directions carefully. This is especially important now, as many schools are changing the way they talk about diversity in response to legislative or institutional changes.

Are Diversity Statements Required for All Faculty Jobs?

If you’ve been following the news, you may be wondering whether diversity statements are still a requirement for faculty job applications. The short answer is: it depends. Recent changes in state legislation and institutional policies have led some schools to phase out this document, while other schools continue to ask for them. Given this variation across institutions and departments, it is a good idea to still be prepared to write a diversity statement for the schools that request it. For institutions that don’t require a separate diversity statement, you may choose to discuss your experiences with diversity in your cover letter, teaching statement, and/or research statement. In each case, be sure to research the school to which you’re applying so that you’re aware of their current policies and approaches to diversity and can demonstrate an alignment with those approaches in your materials.

Timeline: Getting Started with Your Diversity Statement

In general terms, a diversity statement should include past experiences and activities, and also future plans to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. As you are thinking about your statement, keep the following questions in mind, as these can help you to structure what you are writing about:

  • What does diversity mean to you, and why is this important?
  • Do you understand the university’s diversity goals?
  • What have been some of your experiences either being part of a non-majority group or interacting with diverse populations?
  • How has your thinking about diversity actively influenced your teaching, research, and/or scholarship?
  • What role have diversity issues played in your past university service, and what role will they play in the future?
  • What role do you believe that advising and mentoring play in working with diverse populations?
  • Does your engagement with diversity help students prepare for careers in a global society?

Your experiences working with diverse populations will themselves be diverse, and there is no one type of experience that will be sought by search committees. You may not have substantial past activities. In this case, it is a good idea to focus on future plans. As long as you are making an honest attempt to consider your role in meeting each institution’s diversity goals, then you are on the right track. Think about your past experiences and future goals as they relate to these approaches:

  • Service experience with underrepresented groups, including outreach, tutoring, or other types of programs addressing topics relevant to groups such as women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities. This might include being involved in a committee or group focused on diversity, equity, climate, and/or inclusion
  • Teaching, advising, or mentoring underrepresented or underserved groups
  • Teaching approaches that focus on different learning styles and that can accommodate different learning abilities
  • Being aware of challenges faced by historically underrepresented populations
  • Community involvement beyond the university
  • Research activities that specifically contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Future activities you might pursue in context of how they might fit into a research area, department, campus, or national context, listing any ongoing campus initiatives of particular relevance you have found from your research into the institution’s diversity efforts

Take a look at some of the examples in the document below to see how others have articulated their thoughts around diversity.

Additional Resources

For further tips, tricks, and strategies for writing a diversity statement, see the resources below:

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