Overview

The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provides leadership and resources to support the University diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, as articulated in its Strategic Plan 2016-2021. The DDEI helps to coordinate the central diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and inform all parts of campus about opportunities happening across campus. The DDEI offices also assist efforts to recruit and retain faculty, staff, and students. The offices primary goals is to enhance a welcoming, respectful and inclusive campus environment for all.

The mission of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion includes:

• Providing leadership and resources to advance UI’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals
• Coordinating central diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
• Advancing recruitment and retention of faculty, students, and staff
• Enhancing a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive climate for all
• Connecting with community diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

Excellence through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University of Iowa’s status as a premier research university depends on the robust exchange of ideas. The diversity of our students, faculty, and staff helps us fulfill our mission to explore, discover, create, and engage. Thus, we are committed to supporting every Hawkeye’s pursuit of excellence. As we enhance the breadth and depth of our perspectives, we purposefully prepare for our future. Our ability to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all who join the UI family will determine our collective success. We eagerly accept this challenge.

At the UI, we achieve excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity

Diversity refers to all aspects of human difference, social identities, and social group differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective, and associational preferences.

Equity

Equity refers to fair and just practices and policies that ensure all campus community members can thrive. Equity is different than equality in that equality implies treating everyone as if their experiences are exactly the same. Being equitable means acknowledging and addressing structural inequalities — historic and current — that advantage some and disadvantage others. Equal treatment results in equity only if everyone starts with equal access to opportunities.

Inclusion

Inclusion refers to a campus community where all members are and feel respected, have a sense of belonging, and are able to participate and achieve to their potential. While diversity is essential, it is not sufficient. An institution can be both diverse and non-inclusive at the same time, thus a sustained practice of creating inclusive environments is necessary for success.

Downloadable PDF

Feel free to download this accessible PDF which includes our university definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as our statement on excellence: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Definitions Handout.