Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Inclusion refers to the respectful treatment of all people with recognition for the multiplicity of identities and perspectives present in a diverse community. Equity requires attention to disparate impact, differential access, and opportunities afforded to various communities, as well as structural and systemic barriers that limit potential and possibilities. Diversity refers to the numerical representation of faculty, staff, and students who hold different social identities, backgrounds, and experiences.

We will incorporate inclusion, equity, and diversity assertively into our research, teaching, learning, outreach, assessment, operations, and decision making at all levels of Penn State. We will foster and sustain an environment of respect and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, and members of the communities we serve; creatively provide programs and environments that embrace diversity and promote the acceptance and valuing of differences; be steadfast in our efforts to ensure equitable access to our facilities, programs, resources, and services; and advance our workforce by attracting and developing talented faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds.

At Penn State:

• We will foster and maintain a safe environment of respect and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, and members of the communities we serve.
• We will educate our faculty, staff, and students to be social justice advocates, creatively providing curricula, programs, and environments that reflect the diversity of our communities, and elevate cultural awareness.
• We will ensure fair and inclusive access to our facilities, programs, resources, and services, and ensure that all of our policies and practices are inclusive and equitable.
• We will advance and build our workforce by assessing hiring practices and performance review procedures to attract, retain, and develop talented faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
• We will address intergroup disparities in areas such as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.

"Penn State’s greatest strength is its people and the rich tapestry of diverse identities, experiences and backgrounds of the students, faculty and staff that make up our leading 24-campus institution. Our community and the educational experiences of our students are immeasurably enriched by the diversity of the Penn State family, including our graduate students from all walks of life. We are firm believers in the transformative power of higher education to help create a more accepting, tolerant, and inclusive society, and we aim to support and empower our students, faculty and staff while serving as a leader in demonstrating higher education’s positive impact on our shared world."

-Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi

Social Justice Advocacy

Social justice advocacy has been defined as organized efforts aimed at influencing public attitudes, policies, and laws to create a more socially just society guided by the vision of human rights that may include awareness of socio-economic inequities, protection of social rights as well as racial identity, experiences of oppression, and spirituality. As a public land-grant institution, premier research university, and global leader in education, Penn State will support you in your efforts to advocate for social change and human rights consistent with Penn State’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Penn State recognizes that Black Lives Matter and is committed to making changes at the University that address racism, bias and religious intolerance.

We invite you to explore Penn State’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging resources Links to an external site. where you can find DEIB research, information on implicit bias and antiracism, DEIB thought pieces, tools for equity-minded assessment, and Penn State’s DEIB action planning.

The Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs Links to an external site. leads the Fox Graduate School’s efforts to foster diversity and provide a welcoming climate for graduate students of underrepresented groups. If you are interested in learning more about OGEEP or simply hoping to find your community, you can reach out via ogee@psu.edu.