Advancing Inclusive Excellence in Higher Education

<p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The primary aim of this text is to provide educators with specific strategies for engaging in equity and inclusion work on college campuses. We include the perspectives of faculty and staff with a range of experiences and expertise to address current topics evolving at various levels and functional areas in the academy. Rather than replicate findings and recommendations established in extant literature we provide faculty staff and graduate students with the insight and tools they will require to transform established recommendations into actionable solutions and promising practices. This book offers theoretical and practical approaches to evolving diversity equity and inclusion concerns in higher education.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The core themes of this volume center on diversity equity inclusion and belonging in higher education. While some educators use these terms interchangeably we define diversity as a concept that envelopes several modes of social identity including race ethnicity gender ability sexual orientation faith/non-faith affiliation size veteran's status etc. The practice of fortifying representation amongst minoritized populations without making considerations for structure and support has been the primary model for diversifying the academy for the past 40 years. Within the context of higher education and diversity our conversation shifts beyond ensuring marginalized communities are represented. </span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Within each chapter the contributing authors address a wide range of diversity equity inclusion and belonging topics that are unique to their positionality as educators in the postsecondary sector. As editors we intentionally identify authors with diverse professional backgrounds who offer a range in their approaches to addressing emergent trends in their respective areas in higher education. In addition to submitting manuscripts that engage critical examinations of diversity equity and inclusion in the postsecondary sector authors were encouraged to design supplemental material for their chapters such as training modules study guides case studies guides for utilizing critical research approaches and design and interactive activities that can be replicated in various settings on campus (e.g. the classroom residence halls student organization trainings etc.).</span></p><p> </p>