Fall 2012 workshop 2: Exploring the Diversity Statement

On November 2, TA Consultants Leilani Serafin, Robert Lynch, and Heather Dwyer conducted a workshop on diversity statements. We began the workshop by clarifying the prevalence of diversity statements as part of the teaching job application. Currently, some, but not all institutions require one, and the types of institutions that do range from community colleges to Research I universities. We then had a discussion about the presence and importance of diversity in our own fields of study, followed by a group brainstorm of the types of diversity that exist in the classroom. After defining "diversity statement" and its purpose, participants started working on foundations for diversity statements of their own by answering the following questions:

1. What are your past experiences with diversity?
2. How would/do you create an environment inclusive of diversity in your classroom?
3. What are the benefits of your aforementioned actions?

Finally, participants had an opportunity to read sample prompts and statements before revisiting their own diversity statement foundations.

In conducting the workshop, there were a many interesting things that came up in regard to diversity statements. One was that we (the workshop leaders) were under the impression that diversity statements are primarily a part of a teaching job application package, which is untrue: a few participants said they were required to submit similar statements for certain fellowship or grant applications. Another unexpected issue arose during our discussion of WHY institutions might ask for a diversity statement. A few participants expressed some level of anxiety or self-admitted cynicism over this topic, guessing that some institutions might require a diversity statement as a method of weeding or even discrimination. However, it seems that most institutions use diversity statements to ensure that applicants will address their educational missions, which often include their own diversity statements. Also, on a practical level, diversity statements give applicants another page or two in which to “sell themselves.” 

If you're interested in the workshop materials or the lists and notes we generated during this workshop, please feel free to visit the Diversity Statement Wiki we created:  http://tacdiversitystatement.wikispaces.com/