An inclusion statement is a paragraph or section in an institutional, department or course charter that welcomes the range of human representations. Inclusion statements publicly communicate values of diversity and inclusion as well as outline goals and a plan for nurturing a diverse and inclusive learning environment. DIP believes that inclusion statements can serve as a powerful reflective exercise for members of the CBE community to contemplate their contributions to the climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our department. We conducted this exercise collectively as a department (1) and offered opportunities for community members to do so individually (2).
(1) A sub-committee of DIP, composed of students and faculty drafted the Inclusion Statement for the entire department. This document offers a statement of CBE’s values, goals, and progress related to diversity and inclusion. Our hope is that the CBE Inclusion Statement will be a living document that will evolve based on input from the community.
(2) On-going efforts include hosting a workshop-series that supports staff, students, post-docs, and faculty in crafting an inclusion statement and/or personal narrative on the topic for professional or academic uses, such as on course syllabi, research websites, or job and fellowship applications.
The CBE Inclusion Statement can be read here: https://www.cheme.cornell.edu/cbe/about/mission.