Welcome to the Fulton Library Faculty Research Guide on inclusion! This guide is intended to provide access to resources that explore issues of inclusion across many disciplines and areas of study. This is by no means exhaustive, so you can recommend additional resources by contacting your subject librarian.
UVU's "mission [is] to help all students succeed and our focus on creating a welcoming and supportive culture for all of our faculty and staff." ("New Legislation Does Not Alter UVU's mission of Student Success Nor Our Commitment to Our Employees," February 9, 2024)
Inclusion means an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully; are valued for their distinctive skills, experiences, and perspectives; have equal access to resources and opportunities; and can contribute fully to the organization’s success.
Inclusion encompasses diversity, the sum of the ways that people are both alike and different. Visible diversity is generally external attributes or characteristics. However, diversity goes beyond the external to internal characteristics that we choose to define as ‘invisible’ diversity. Invisible diversity includes those characteristics and attributes that are not readily seen. When we recognize, value, and embrace diversity, we are recognizing, valuing, and embracing the uniqueness of each individual.
Inclusion also means working towards equity. Equity is not the same as formal equality. Formal equality implies sameness. Equity, on the other hand, assumes differences and takes differences into account to ensure a fair process and, ultimately, a fair (or equitable) outcome. Equity recognizes that some groups were (and are) disadvantaged in accessing educational and employment opportunities and are, therefore, underrepresented or marginalized in many organizations and institutions. The effects of that exclusion often linger systemically within organizational policies, practices, and procedures. Equity, therefore, means increasing diversity by ameliorating the conditions of disadvantaged groups.
These definitions come from the American Library Association's Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services.
