VISION
The Department of History is committed to the values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our pedagogy, research, professional practices, and interactions with students, staff, and our faculty colleagues.
The profession of history is uniquely situated to contribute to the DEI efforts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and at Iowa State University. Our disciplinary expertise offers a wide range of perspectives on all aspects of history on every continent and almost every population group across the globe. Our discipline has led the way in seeking out and exposing past inequities and in working to define “We the People” as an all-encompassing category in our professional practice. In short, we provide a diverse, global understanding of the human past.
As historians, we commit to honesty and integrity in our pedagogy, scholarship, and professional service. We affirm the dignity of everyone. We endeavor to provide access to an education and workplace free from discrimination and bias. We strive to create a just community that exemplifies respect for all. We embrace equitable access to opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.
MISSION
The concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are built on the ideals of integrity, respect, dignity, and accountability. We take our commitment to advancing these ideals seriously and value these concepts in all of their human dimensions. To be an inclusive Department means that we have a diverse and an equitable Department.
As a Department, we are committed to diversity. We define diversity as the incorporation of underrepresented communities into the Department, especially those from marginalized or minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds and gender and sexual identities. We are particularly interested in diversity efforts aimed at bringing historically excluded faculty, staff, and students into the Department. We will achieve this diversity through intentional recruitment, hiring, and retention of faculty, staff, and students from diverse populations.
We also commit to equity. We define equity as the purposeful promotion of access and fairness in all of our policies, practices, and procedures. As a Department we are particularly interested in equity efforts that disrupt systemic or institutional disparities and biases within the Department. Equity means that we will provide access to an education and workplace free from discrimination and give everyone the tools they need to be successful.
Finally, we commit to upholding the ideals of inclusion. We define inclusion as creating educational and professional spaces that are welcoming, that accommodate those with disabilities, that actively incorporate the diverse identities and perspectives we seek through our diversity efforts, and that advance the equity mission of the Department so that everyone succeeds. Inclusion is thus the culmination of our diversity and equity efforts.
Adopted May 2, 2022.