Supporting graduate students, researchers, and faculty in creating more inclusive environments in higher education.

The Inclusive Excellence Initiative aims to support graduate students, researchers, and faculty in creating more inclusive environments in higher education – environments where all individuals feel welcome, respected, and that their contributions are valued.

Recognizing the desire to create inclusive climates in higher education but lack of training and resources to achieve this, we have created the attached set of suggestions drawn from our own experiences, from those in ReNUWIt community, and from the literature. These suggestions include steps that students, researchers, and faculty can take to improve the climate in research and classroom spaces, and in peer relationships among graduate students.

While we believe these actions can have a tangible impact, we see them as a starting point rather than an end goal; completing these tasks will not guarantee that your classroom or research group is welcoming to all. Instead, we believe that achieving inclusive climates requires all of us to continuously strive to learn, improve, and work together to counteract the forces that perpetuate racism, ableism, sexism, and biases against other underrepresented groups.

With this mindset, these suggestions are intended as a starting point, as actionable items and conversation starters. We encourage you to discuss these ideas with others in your department and in your community.