What are the definitions of diversity and inclusion?
What is diversity?
The University of Arizona, like most institutions of higher education today, has a broad definition of diversity including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, disability, nationality, language, religion, and socio-economic background (AAC&U, 2009).
What is inclusion?
Inclusion is defined as, “The active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity—in people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical) with which individuals might connect—in ways that increase one’s awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions” (AAC&U, 2009, ¶ 3).
How are diversity and inclusion different?
While a diverse student population is necessary for student development, the benefits of diversity are not automatic and do not simply occur from a diverse campus. Researchers stress that institutions must become inclusive places by working in intentional ways to increase educational benefits for students and for the institution (Milem, Chang, & Antonio, 2005).