Diversity statements

This content has been written in collaboration with the Writing and Communication Centre. For receiving feedback on diversity statements, you can book an appointment with the Centre for Career Development via WaterlooWorks (under cover letters) or book an appointment with the Writing and Communication Centre.

A diversity statement demonstrates your commitment and contributions to diversity and/or inclusion, particularly in your academic career. The statement should be at least one page, but it can be longer. Your statement can address aspects of your academic career such as research, research practices, teaching and pedagogy, service or volunteer work and future commitments to diversity and inclusion.

You do not need to address all these aspects of your academic career. There’s no one-size fits all version of a diversity statement. A diversity statement is composed of a deep reflection on the various ways you have been committed to diversity and inclusion. Focus on the aspects of your career that best demonstrate that commitment.

The purpose of the diversity statement is to demonstrate alignment with the department‘s inclusivity and diversity mission. The hiring committee wants to know that you'll be able to contribute to the department‘s and the university‘s mission, rather than uphold existing barriers and practices that exclude equity-deserving groups.

Your diversity statement should demonstrate to the hiring committee that you understand and can work with a diverse and/or under-represented population inclusively across your research, teaching and/or service.

Research: If your research incorporates a research practice or a way of knowing from under-represented groups that historically have not or do not get counted as research, how have you done so ethically and with care? Does your research feed back into the community or communities that you work with?

Teaching: In your teaching, you can speak about the ways that the design of your course creates an inclusive environment and accommodates student needs. For example, you might describe how you communicate tacit knowledge for first-generation students.

Service: In your volunteer work or academic service, have you participated in an outreach committee or initiative designed to support under-represented populations in your field? For instance, you participated in a community outreach camp for girls in tech and entrepreneurship, Technovation Girls.

There are several ways to structure your diversity statement, and how you structure the statement should highlight your contributions and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Consider this guide for your reference when structuring your diversity statement.

Introduction

The introduction sets the tone of your diversity statement and gives an indication to the reader what the following statement will address. Possible introductory topics include but are not limited to:

• How has your academic background expanded your knowledge and skills related to diversity?

• How has your demographic background influenced you to advocate for diversity and inclusion?

• When and why did you first start getting interested in diversity and inclusion?

Body paragraphs

The body paragraphs of the diversity statement can be organized in many ways, whether the statement moves chronologically or explores different areas of your past experiences with diversity. Regardless, each paragraph should have a clear topical focus. Your body paragraphs can focus on topics like:

• Personal experiences of oppression in and outside of the academy, and how it contributes to your passion for diversity and inclusion.

• Research interests and their relation to equity, diversity and inclusion.

• Supervisor/mentorship of individuals from under-represented groups.

• Teaching experience and pedagogical approaches to teaching diverse learners from different demographic backgrounds.

• Volunteer and service experience that has supported under-represented populations and your significant role in providing that support.

Conclusion

In your conclusion, summarize your letter and connect it to your future contributions at the institution you are applying to. How will you continue your commitments and contributions to diversity and inclusion at that university? What would these contributions look like? How do your past and future contributions align with the department/university‘s diversity and inclusion mission?

Before you ask yourself this question, seriously reflect on how you might have contributed to diversity and inclusion in your academic career. Remember that diversity includes a wide range of topics such as race, gender and sexuality, disability and demographics such as age, class, first-generation students, university culture, off-campus communities, etc. Diversity can be demonstrated in your research, ethical approaches to your research, how you have created an inclusive environment in your classroom, pedagogical approaches and volunteer work.

If none of the above apply, focus most of your letter on your future commitment to diversity: what actions will you take in your research, teaching, and service to start contributing to diversity and inclusion? You can also provide plans or recommendations for the kinds of EDI work you will be doing at the institution you are applying to.

Yes. If you absolutely feel that your research does not demonstrate your contributions/commitment to diversity nor can you think of how your research can be committed to diversity in the future, you do not have to discuss your research in a diversity statement.

Remember, a diversity statement does not have to cover all aspects of your academic career. There’s no template or one-size fits all model for diversity statements. Writing one requires you to think deeply about all areas of your academic career. Reflect on:

• Personal experiences of oppression in and outside of the academy, and how it contributes to your passion for diversity and inclusion.

• Research interests, and their relation to diversity and inclusion.

• Supervisor/mentorship of individuals from under-represented groups.

• Teaching experience and pedagogical approaches to teaching diverse learners from different demographic backgrounds.

• Volunteer and service experience that has supported under-represented populations and your significant role in providing that support.

Your document's structure demonstrates the information most important from asking yourself these questions.

Below are some further resources on writing diversity statements:

• UC San Diego‘s Guidelines for Applicants Writing Statement

• The Effective Diversity Statement by Tanya Golash-Boza

• Demystifying the Diversity Statement by Victoria Reyes

• UC Berkeley‘s Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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