Introduction
Updated: May 18, 2023
The University of Iowa strives to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive campus environment for all faculty, staff, and students. The ways in which we communicate with and speak to each other, within the state of Iowa and beyond, sets the standard for the inclusiveness we aspire to.
Faculty and staff from across the UI campus have created this Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Style Guide—modeled after the California State University Diversity Style Guide—that attempts to answer common questions and provide thoughtful guidance on topics that may arise when creating or editing content. It will be added as an addendum to the “Bias in Language” section of the UI’s Editorial Style Guide.
This guide was created with the understanding that many of the topics and sections will evolve, as will the guide. Those using this guide are encouraged to ask questions, offer suggestions, and note omissions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to now@uiowa.edu. To learn how this guide was created, see the Appendix of this document.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Style Guide offers guidance on:
- Women, men, nonbinary genders, and people who don’t identify as a specific gender
- People of various races and ethnicities, including Black, Hispanic/Latinx/o/a, Asian and Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native American, and Arab/MENA/SWANA
- Immigration and immigration status
- People with disabilities, including mental disorders
- People who are low-income and/or underserved
- Individuals who are LGBTQ+ and transgender
- Veterans
The Style Guide offers guidance on the following:
How this guide was created
The University of Iowa Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Style Guide Committee members who worked to adapt the guide for use at Iowa include:
- Tricia Brown, senior director of internal communication, Office of Strategic Communication
- Lois Gray, director, Office of Strategic Communication, College of Education
- Isandra Martínez-Marrero, director of cultural engagement and analytics, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Matthew Miller, director of student support services for Iowa Veteran Education, Transition, and Support (IVETS)
- Charlie Taylor, director of communications, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Tim Weber, quality control editor, Office of Strategic Communication
In addition, input was provided by various members of the UI Diversity Councils:
- Path Forward Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Collaboration Committee
- African American Council
- Council on Disability Awareness
- Council on the Status of Women
- LGBTQ+ Council
- Latinx Council
- Native American Council
- Pan Asian Council
This guide was created with the understanding that many of the topics and sections will evolve, as will the guide. Those using this guide are encouraged to ask questions, offer suggestions, and note omissions.
Please don’t hesitate to email Tricia Brown at tricia-brown@uiowa.edu.