The <Brief> Diversity Briefing

NSF: "The creative engagement of diverse ideas and perspectives is essential to enabling the transformative research that invigorates our nation's scientific and engineering excellence . . . and provides for the discovery and nurturing of talent wherever it may be found . . .[an] emphasis consistent with the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) and the America Competes Act, federal responses to the widespread concern that the U.S. is in danger of losing its position of world leadership in science and technology."

So . . . how to do it?

1) Get faculty on board: why does diversity matter to them?

2). Offer and implement training /orientation

3) Improve access to materials and resources that can help faculty succeed in their efforts.

For details and examples of on-the-ground project components and activities, visit:

www.pathwaystoscience.org

1) Reaching and recruiting

2). Supporting and retaining

3) Tracking

For details and examples of on-the-ground project components and activities, visit:

www.pathwaystoscience.org

Embracing the pipeline involves far-thinking in a system built around supporting and assessing results on the (relatively) short-term. But persist! Reaching backward and forward in the pipeline is critical to creating deep and lasting change – and – fortunately! – including just a few concrete activities focused on this end can make a difference.

1. INSPIRE backwards and outwards

2. SUPPORT forwards

For details and examples of on-the-ground project components and activities, visit:

www.pathwaystoscience.org

From: NSF's "Broadening Participation at the National Science Foundation: a Framework for Action" (2008).

Broadening Participation

Support

Attract

Track

Reach out

Connect

=

(evaluation)

Why is diversity important?

1. A matter of national need: STEM workforce impacts

our ability to compete in the global marketplace

= national competency and global leadership

2.Success!

• Diverse teams are more effective problem solvers
• Diversity of viewpoints and experience = richer educational environment

3. Broader Impacts

(a.k.a. "recruitment & retention")

Students become faculty & researchers . . .

Broader Impacts

brief

(getting more bang for the buck)

My project . . .

Advances Discovery

Benefits Society

The Diversity Briefing

Broadens Participation

What is broadening participation?

What is diversity?

NSF literature speaks to “broadening opportunities and enabling participation of all citizens, women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities.”

“individuals from underrepresented groups as well as institutions and geographic areas that do not participate in NSF research programs at rates comparable to others.”

Inclusion

Privilege

Unexamined Bias

Meritocracy

Diversity

Underrepresented

Groups

Enhances Infrastructure

"Systemic form of advantage for those who have it . . . invisible . . . difficult to challenge."

"A form of stereotyping that is often unintentional, automatic, and outside our awareness . . . also called subtle or implicit bias."

"An ideology that there is a level playing field in the US and that people can advance as far as their hard-work and abilities allow. Ignores long-standing discriminatory practices."

Often connected to social identity and the groups to which we belong that give us a source of identity. "Diversity Goals are intended to make difference acceptable and to reverse patterns of discrimination which result underrepresentation in academia."

"Valuing differences in social identities and cultural backgrounds. Working towards not only acceptance of these differences but celebration of them as well. In inclusive environments, faculty, chairs and deans are accountable for diversity and for actively fostering welcoming environments."

"People from groups who have historically been denied access or faced steep barriers to accessing higher education in the US."

From: Interrupting Bias in the Faculty Search Process, by UWADVANCE

The Institute for Broadening Participation

Promotes Teaching, Training, and Learning

Supports Networks and Partnerships

Building and Fostering Partnerships to Increase Participation and Diversity in STEM

Disseminates Findings

(From: NSF's "Merit Review Broader Impacts Criterion: Representative Activities (2007))

www.pathwaystoscience.org

"The Pipeline"

Faculty & researchers mentor students . . .

A comprehensive plan for broadening participation

and increasing diversity has 5 Areas of Focus:

A. Growing the diversity awareness and cultural

competency of project faculty and partners.

B. Developing and implementing a comprehensive plan

for outreach and retention.

C. Embracing the pipeline.

D. Evaluation: putting the systems into place that will

enable you to track your efforts and assess change.

E. Dissemination: sharing your work, findings and

successes at conferences and in publications.

(reach out to young students in K12 and

bring your science back to community and family)

(continue on a successful career pathway and transition into grad school, the post-doc experience, and the junior faculty or early professional stages of their academic, research or industrial careers)

For more information . . .

For details & examples of on-the-ground

project components and activities . . .

To post your opportunity for students . . .

Questions?

Visit www.pathwaystoscience.org

or contact:

The Institute for Broadening Participation

Building and Fostering Partnerships to Increase Participation and Diversity in STEM

toll free (866) 593-9103

contactus@ibparticipation.org