Casual observation is an inadequate method to determine the degree of inclusivity within an academic unit because it does not take into account implicit bias, the perspectives of others, or the wealth of data that could indicate room for improvement. On the surface, an academic unit may look inclusive—there may be visible diversity among the faculty—but diversity is not synonymous with inclusivity. Faculty members may seem collegial, but how do faculty from underrepresented groups feel about the climate? Policies and practices may seem fair and unbiased, but are they?
Connections Are Everything: Putting Relationships at the Heart of Higher Ed
As academic leaders, we are under so much pressure to deliver—enrollment targets, strategic plans, graduation rates, AI policies, and on and on—that we can lose sight of what our students