Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Diversity Statement: 

In the Department of Communication, we acknowledge that there are groups of people who have been systematically mistreated and/or underrepresented in society, including in academia and in the discipline of Communication, as learners, as teachers, and as researchers. We acknowledge that these inequities are created and sustained by communication processes. To combat these injustices, we seek to cultivate an environment in which all people, regardless of their group and/or individual identities, feel recognized, heard, and celebrated through our service activities and our research and teaching practices. We seek to explore the means by which communication can ameliorate inequities and contribute to celebrating diversity.

We also support the University of Arizona’s mission regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion: 

At the University of Arizona, we strive to create a working, learning and living community where all members and visitors feel welcomed and valued.

The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) is committed to supporting a campus culture where all members of our community have equitable access to academic and professional opportunities and are supported in their individual and collective pursuits and efforts. For more information, please visit the web pages for The Office of Institutional Equity and The Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Land Acknowledgment

We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O'odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service. 

What is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)?

Diversity is defined as the presence of different group identities and their perspectives. Equity is defined as the equitable treatment, access, and opportunities for all people, regardless of group and/or individual identity. Inclusion refers to the respect and value that all people should feel whenever they are in a given environment, regardless of their group and/or individual identity.

Our Views on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity is the presence of different group identities and their perspectives. Diversity manifests based on factors that make us unique as people (e.g., cognitive skills, our personalities) and also our group identities (e.g., identities surrounding age, gender, ethnicity/race, sexuality, religion, SES, among others). In our department, we acknowledge and celebrate the diversity apparent in our students, staff, and faculty. We strive to give everyone a voice in the classroom and in our research, including those who belong to historically underrepresented groups.

Equity involves equitable treatment, access, and opportunities for all people, regardless of group and/or individual identity. Equity assumes that each individual in any given environment receives impartial and fair opportunities. In our department, this means that all people are granted the same opportunities to thrive in their specific roles (faculty, staff, student). 

Inclusion is the respect and value that all people should feel in any environment, regardless of their group and/or individual identity. This dictates that all people should feel that they belong and that they have value. In our department, every person should feel safe, supported, and comfortable in expressing their authentic selves.

More Information & Resources

Please email us questions at comminfo@arizona.edu and write DEI in the subject line. Or, you can submit an anonymous comment or concern.

2022-2023 DEI Report

2021-2022 DEI REPORT