What are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)?

Source: Inclusion by Design: Insights from Design Week Portland; Gensler

Diversity is the presence and acceptance of differences that may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, culture, citizenship, marital status, life and career paths, socioeconomic status, educational background, workplace position, language or dialect, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective.

Equity is different from equality. Equality provides the same resources, opportunities, and treatment for all people without accommodating their backgrounds or resources. Equity, on the other hand, provides everyone with the unique resources and opportunities they need to reach an equal outcome. Whereas equality means providing equal access to everyone regardless of the differences in need, equity means recognizing that not everyone starts from the same place, and thus adjustments are made to address this imbalance. Equity is also something that is ongoing because new differences emerge, whereas equality remains the same because each individual is provided the same resources or access (NACE, 2023).

Source: Equity vs Equality. Northwestern Health Unit

Inclusion is the outcome of a welcoming environment that incorporates diverse perspectives and equitable practices to ensure all people participate in decision-making. Diversity is not the same as inclusion: Diversity is the presence and acceptance of differences whereas inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity to achieve a culture in which different people can come together to work, feel comfortable and confident to be themselves, and feel valued.

Source: CRU-Inclusion-Graphic Community Resource Unit Ltd. [Note that all the circles in this graphic can exist in a workplace that is considered diverse.]

How does the University of Virginia Department of Psychology promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

We are committed to fostering an academically enriching and supportive climate for all members of our community. We hold the mission of promoting diversity and inclusion as a core value around which institutional decisions are made and believe this mission to be fundamental to our scholarly endeavors. See the department mission statement for more information.

What to include in your DEI statement?

Tell us how you see yourself contributing to our DEI efforts as a graduate student. Perhaps you have a unique set of experiences, skills, or background that will enrich the diversity of our department. Perhaps you have contributed to DEI efforts in the past. Or perhaps you see ways you will contribute to DEI in the department, the field, and society in the future. For more detailed tips, strategies, and resources for writing a Diversity Statement, check out this document. To learn about specific ways you can get involved in making our department a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, check out our “Ways to Get Involved” page.