Equity and Inclusion

Preventing harm and exclusion, and working to obtain the resources necessary so that everyone can participate fully. Respectfully demonstrating openness, sensitivity and the ability to include all people into a process, especially those who are disadvantaged, have suffered discrimination or are living with disabilities.

Suggested activities

  • Valuing and learning from people of differing identities and backgrounds in your classes and around campus.
  • Taking a class that introduces you to cultures and identities different than your own.
  • Offering suggestions at your on-campus job for creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
  • Noticing when personal biases may cloud your vision and committing to addressing them.
  • Studying or volunteering abroad Working or volunteering in DEI-specific roles or orgs on or off campus.

Rate where you are on this skill

Basic Intermediate Advanced Expert
Basic

You understand that equity and inclusion involves valuing and promoting individuals’ differences and demonstrating openness, sensitivity and respect for all identities.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Study this skill in a class or training.

At this level, it is appropriate to include this skill on your resume.

You actively engage with and learn from individuals of differing identities and dedicate time to examining your identities and experiences and how they both shaped and currently impact you. You demonstrate empathy for and interest in learning about and understanding others’ differences and experiences. You collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds in class or at a part-time job, internship, club/organization or in a volunteer role.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Demonstrate flexibility by adapting to diverse environments.
  • Demonstrate openness and a sense of curiosity to diverse ideas and new ways of thinking and communicating.
  • Seek global and/or cross-cultural interactions and experiences that enhance one’s understanding of people from different demographic groups.
  • Recognize the value in and appreciate difference.
  • Demonstrate enhanced listening skills.
  • Possess an understanding of cultural complexity.
  • Recognize personal biases.

You have dedicated many hours to engaging with people of diverse identities, backgrounds and perspectives in multiple environments including a work setting. You are committed to examining personal biases (both conscious and unconscious) and educating yourself about current and historical discrimination. People seek you out as someone who recognizes, respects and appreciates people’s differences and advocates on their behalf.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions.
  • Advocate for inclusion, equitable practices, justice and empowerment for historically marginalized communities.
  • Enjoy working in multilingual and/or multicultural environments.
  • Communicate effectively and comfortably across cultures and identities.
  • Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural context.
  • Understand the difference between intentions and impacts.
  • Commit to addressing and overcoming personal biases.
  • Identify resources to help eliminate barriers resulting from individual and systemic racism, inequities and biases.
  • Network with others in the field to exchange ideas; attend conferences.

You have committed hundreds of hours to working with people of differing identities, studying and researching DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) topics and collaborating with other DEI experts. People look to you to teach them about equity and inclusion.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.
  • Address systems of privilege that limit opportunities for members of historically marginalized communities.
  • Continue to learn about this skill through graduate study or by applying it in more advanced and complex work situations.
  • Create resources to inform/educate others on addressing, owning and overcoming biases and systems of privilege in the workplace.
  • Present at conferences and other relevant events.