Diversity and Inclusion Defined

The goal of diversity and inclusion is to foster an environment in which all members of the GW community are treated equitably, contribute fully to the university's mission, and embrace and model GW values. Below are definitions of diversity and inclusion that guided the President's Council on Diversity and Inclusion in its founding report and continue to be used today.

Diversity: The term diversity is used to describe individual differences (e.g. life experiences, learning and working styles, personality types) and group/social differences (e.g. race, socio-economic status, class, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability, intellectual traditions and perspectives, as well as cultural, political, religious, and other affiliations) that can be engaged to achieve excellence in teaching, learning, research, scholarship, and administrative and support services.

Inclusion: The term inclusion is used to describe the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity -- in people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (e.g. intellectual, social, cultural, geographic) with which individuals might connect.