32 ideas for departments to enhance diversity in their programs
- Develop a departmental level diversity recruitment plan
- Seek advice and/or referrals from current students or faculty of underrepresented groups; use personal or informal networks
- Showcase inclusion in your program level publicity (e.g. departmental website)
- Incorporate diversity messages in particular recruitment announcements of program position openings (e.g. Equal Opportunity Employer)
- Use specialized Diversity Job Boards, Advertizing Agencies, Magazines, Social Networking Sites, etc. to publicize program or openings
- Hold department-specific specialized recruitment events, fairs, career conferences, etc. for prospective underrepresented students
- Participate in university recruitment events, fairs, career center activities for prospective underrepresented students
- Engage with professional association networks, directories, conferences, listservs, etc. to recruit underrepresented students or faculty
- Include courses in the program's curriculum to attract underrepresented students' interests (e.g. social justice, GIS, gender, ethnic studies)
- Offer service learning courses or projects to engage with underrepresented students' interests
- Recruit nonmajor underrepresented students from general education courses or introductory human or physical geography courses
- Create or engage with partnerships with high schools from the department or program level
- Create or engage with partnerships with community colleges from the department or program level
- Create or engage with partnerships with Historically Black College or Universities at the department or program level
- Create or engage with partnerships with Hispanic-Serving Institutions at the department or program level
- Create or engage with partnerships with Tribal Colleges at the department or program level
- Form strategic partnerships with community organizations that serve diverse populations to increase visibility
- Adhere to university level affirmative action policies or other requirements from administration to include minorities in applicant pools
- Establish departmental committees, groups, or student clubs for women, minorities, or other underrepresented groups
- Participate at the department level in organizing or promoting university wide social events, residence hall activities, or campus fairs
- Provide mentoring or leadership training for women or underrepresented faculty
- Provide mentoring or leadership training for women or underrepresented students
- Offer specialized teaching or research support or fellowships for women or underrepresented faculty
- Provide diversity training within the department or attend university sponsored diversity training events / programs
- Hold or attend special workshops, seminars, brown bags, or invited speakers on promoting inclusion or improving departmental climate
- Offer progressive child care policy or parental leave and/or facilities or childcare provision
- Arrange services for faculty or students with disabilities or who become disabled
- Conduct activities of any kind that ensures faculty and students are welcomed regardless of their sexual orientation
- Promote or use university offices / administered programs in diversity such as Office of Multicultural Affairs, etc.
- Encourage departmental participation in university committees on diversity or inclusion
- Monitor and review progress toward diversity in the department using metrics, surveys, focus groups, evaluations, etc.
- Create or engage with diverse alumni graduated from the department around mentoring, networking, advising, or other priorities.