The Value of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at Penn State
“Diversity, inclusion, and equity are fundamental to the University’s values and mission to support all members of our Commonwealth and beyond. We strive to assertively incorporate these values into our research, teaching, learning, outreach, assessment, operations, and decision making at all levels of the University.”
Penn State Statement on Belonging
“We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
At Penn State:
- We strive to foster a safe environment of respect and belonging for faculty, staff, students, and members of the communities we serve.
- We encourage faculty, staff, and students to effectively work and learn in a diverse community.
- We continue to provide equitable and inclusive access to our facilities, programs, resources, and services, and work toward maintaining policies and practices that are inclusive.
- We advance and build our workforce by assessing hiring practices and performance review procedures to attract, retain, and develop talented faculty and staff from all backgrounds, circumstances, and experiences.
- We address intersectional and intergroup disparities in areas such as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.”
Strategic Planning
"Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) is a foundational element of Penn State’s academic, research and land-grant missions. Creating an environment that welcomes community members from all identities, backgrounds and walks of life while providing equitable opportunities for all Penn Staters to thrive as their authentic selves is central to President Bendapudi’s vision for the University.
- Inventorying DEIB activities across all campuses, academic and administrative units, and colleges to determine breadth of offerings, gaps in offerings and best practices.
- Establishing baseline metrics and goals for campuses and units to close DEIB gaps.
- Increasing recruitment of underrepresented students, faculty and staff.
- Closing gaps in graduation rates across backgrounds and identities.
- Diversifying Penn State’s faculty across all ranks and tracks.
- Creating robust communities of support for faculty, staff and students of all backgrounds.
- Creating equitable professional development and advancement opportunities for staff at all levels.
- Enhancing a sense of inclusion and belonging for all Penn Staters, as measured through data-driven tools such as the recurring Living Our Values Survey."
Please visit Advancing Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity-Our Commitment to Impact: The Pennsylvania State University’s Strategic Plan for 2020 to 2025 Links to an external site. for detailed information surrounding the strategic plan for diversity.
References
1Penn State Educational Equity Links to an external site.