Strategic Diversity Planning, Training, and Assessment

The Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) calls on higher education to address diversity, equity, and inclusion as critical to the well-being of a democratic culture. As stated in Ohio State's Strategic Plan, “diversity and inclusion are core principles in everything we do at this institution, from academic programming and resources to the hiring and promotion of faculty and staff.”

Inclusive excellence is the idea that true excellence is only possible through diversity, equity, and inclusion. The goal of an inclusive excellence plan is to bring the vision of inclusive excellence into practice, where we merge our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion with our policies and practices to ensure access to opportunities and excellence for our students, faculty, staff and community. Inclusive excellence cuts across recruitment and retention, teaching and learning, student development and belonging, employee development, promotion and tenure, institutional policy and practice, and our outreach and engagements with local, state, national, and global communities. Inclusive excellence – excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion - should be central to everything we do.

Diversity, as in “a diversity in people and ideas,” is the diversity across social differences such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, religion, age, veteran status, or other social group differences. We also value the diversity of experience, knowledge, and perspective that people bring to our community. Ohio State has a non-discrimination notice (pdf doc) that outlines our protected classes.

Inclusion is the practice of active, intentional, and ongoing implementation of inclusive climates, policies, processes, structures, systems, and services. Inclusive practices create work environments, classrooms, residences, activities, and opportunities that support members of our diverse community to flourish. Inclusion requires increased awareness, cultural competency, content knowledge, and empathetic understanding of the complex ways in which individuals engage with and are impacted by systems and institutions.

Equity is the removal of barriers and the creation of opportunities for historically minoritized, excluded, and underserved populations to have equal access to and participate in educational programs and workplaces and receive services.

Belonging is the feeling of social connection and relation to those around you and to the institution. Sense of belonging is created through the dynamic interplay between Buckeyes and Ohio State. We achieve this by creating an environment where all feel truly welcome and valued. Through positive and affirming interactions with diverse peers and supportive environments, we grow a sense of belonging that impacts persistence, retention, and success. These experiences translate into feeling validated and valued as a member of our Buckeye community.