The Department of Psychology at Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, a minority-serving institution (MSI), is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community where all faculty, staff, and students feel valued, respected, and included. We believe that embracing diversity in all its forms enriches our intellectual environment, enhances our teaching and research endeavors, and strengthens our ability to serve the community and beyond.
As an MSI, we are dedicated to supporting and empowering all students to reach their full potential. We define diversity as inclusive of age, ability, cultural identity, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith, neurological make-up (neurodiversity), geographic, social, military, marital, and economic backgrounds, and political and ideological perspectives, among other identities. We hold the mission of promoting diversity and inclusion as a core value and fundamental to our scholarly endeavors. In these efforts, we understand that diversity is an ongoing commitment, rather than an outcome measured at a single point in time; therefore, we promote diversity and inclusion in our department across multiple domains:
Ìý
- Our undergraduate and graduate curriculum: We encourage integration of cultural understanding and sensitivity into the curriculum and classroom interactions (e.g., promoting the incorporation of diverse perspectives into course materials).
Ìý - Research: We encourage research that addresses social inequalities, and strive to promote inclusive research practices and generalizability of findings. Ìý
Ìý - Faculty, Staff, and Student Diversity: We are dedicated to increasing diversity among our faculty, staff, and students and promoting retention. This involves actively recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups and providing support to foster a sense of belonging.
Ìý - Access and Advocacy: We support access to organizations, research opportunities, and initiatives that generate opportunities and support for our students, faculty, and staff. This includes connecting individuals with relevant resources, and providing meaningful access to and advocacy for safe climates.
Ìý
Through these ongoing efforts, we strive to create a department where every individual feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed.ÌýBy embracing our identity as an MSI and upholding the values of diversity and inclusion, we aim to contribute to the well-being of our community.