A diversity statement is a paragraph or section in institutional, department, or course language that welcomes the range of human representations including race, class, gender, religion, accessibility, and socioeconomic status. Instructors can use the diversity statement to set expectations for civil discourse, encouragement for varying opinions, and standards of behavior both within a course or discipline and during controversial campus events. At root, the diversity statement signals belief that all students have value and bring unique perspectives worthy of consideration.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Diversifying your syllabi might mean including more content about marginalized peoples and more reading materials by marginalized scholars. The aim is not to simply meet quotas, but to foster an environment that includes knowledge that has been systemically excluded from academia. This refers to knowledge produced by marginalized groups for reasons of race, class, sexual orientation, gender, or ability.