[Grad-postdoc-assn] Writing Diversity Statements for Academia

[Valerie Sloan]

Dear postdocs, grad students, and early career scientists,


Please join us for an upcoming workshop this week:


*Writing Diversity Statements for Academia *

Thurs., Feb. 14 from 9:00 - 10:00 AM

NCAR Foothills Lab - FL1 in the EOL Atrium (contact me if you need
directions)


If you are interested in applying for academic jobs, you’ll notice a
growing demand for statements on inclusion and diversity. Below I have
outlined what this is all about!

What is the purpose of a diversity statement?

“According to [a] University of California at San Diego website, ‘the
purpose of the statement is to identify candidates who have professional
skills, experience and/or willingness to engage in activities that
would enhance
campus diversity and equity efforts’” (Golash-Boza, 2016
<https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/06/10/how-write-effective-diversity-statement-essay>
).

Beck (2018
<https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/developing-and-writing-a-diversity-statement>)
states that “From the perspective of the university, the purpose of this
document is to demonstrate that the applicant has commitments and
capacities to contribute to the institution’s projects of inclusion and
equity via his or her work, including scholarship, teaching, service,
mentoring, and advising.”


How are universities asking for these statements?

Here are a few examples:

1) "Applicants should submit a statement explaining how their teaching at
the College will contribute to a culture of inclusion and campus diversity."
>From St. Mary’s College of Maryland (public liberal arts college, faculty
posting in Psychology).

2) "A description of how the applicant would contribute to the development
of a diverse and inclusive learning community at Denison through her/his
teaching, research, and/or service." From Denison University (private
liberal arts university in Ohio, faculty posting in Anthropology).

*What goes into a diversity statement? *

Three common elements are often included:

*1.* A past experience or event that helped shape or enhance your
understanding of diversity and inclusion. Note: if you have not had
exposure to different cultures or ideologies, describe how you have sought
(or how you plan to seek) learning opportunities.

*2. *The specific ways in which you have incorporated elements of diversity
and equity into your teaching, research, and service.

*3.* Plans for how you will incorporate them into your future work at that
specific university.

(From the U. Notre Dame website
<https://gradcareers.nd.edu/assets/216841/diversity_statement_information_for_website.p%09df>
).

*Recommended Reading *

*. . . Or should I say, read these short articles before Thursday.  Oh! And
see the two example statements that are attached.  They really give you a
good idea of what this is all about.*

Beck, S. L., (2018). Developing and writing a diversity statement.
Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Retrieved Feb. 11, 2019 from
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/developing-and-writing-a-diversity-statement

Golash-Boza (2016). The effective diversity statement. Inside Higher Ed.
Retrieved Feb. 11, 2019 from
https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/06/10/how-write-effective-diversity-statement-essay

University of Notre Dame, Graduate Career Services (2019). Diversity
statements. Retrieved Feb. 11, 2019 from

https://gradcareers.nd.edu/assets/216841/diversity_statement_information_for_website.p%09df

- Val
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Valerie Sloan, Ph.D.
Senior Higher Education Specialist &
Director of the GEO REU Network
NCAR Education & Outreach
NCAR|UCAR
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Email: vsloan at ucar.edu
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