Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

 The Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology is a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff that represent a range of nationalities, cultures, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. We are committed to celebrating diversity and inclusion as well as maintaining a culture of inclusion, acceptance and mutual respect. 

We partner with IU School of Medicine, other Departments, and numerous IU Centers/Institutes to uphold three foundational pillars: representational diversity, inclusive working and learning environments, and cultural competence. We strive to communicate with respect, encourage discussion, support those who feel marginalized, and promote diversity initiatives from all corners of the university and surrounding community. We acknowledge that we are not perfect and that mistakes happen. That said, we encourage humility, transparency, practicing grace when others make mistakes, and engaging in continuous self-reflection. Our goal is to build and maintain a collaborative environment in which all community members are welcomed, supported, and empowered.

a collection of words in the shape of the IU trident - diversity, belonging, culture, respect, identity, etc.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) Plan

IDEA Pillar 1: Representational Diversity
We recognize the importance of representational diversity and acknowledge that the Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology still has much work to do to in this area. Current efforts to improve and maintain representational diversity include 1) training for faculty, staff and students serving on recruitment/search committees, 2) promotion of professional and personal development activities for all department members, and 3) targeted and intentional recruitment activities in partnership with IU School of Medicine and IU Indianapolis.

IDEA Pillar 2: Inclusivity and Belonging
We acknowledge the added (unnecessary) weight associated with exclusion and feeling like an “outsider”. We strive to lift that burden from members of our community. Current efforts include 1) celebrations of science, education and scholarship from diverse faculty, staff, and students, 2) recognition of department community members who demonstrate a passion for/commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and 3) activities that build community and promote togetherness across disciplines and specialties.

IDEA Pillar 3: Cultural Competence
We recognize that it can be hard to understand and appreciate the unfamiliar. We therefore seek to build/promote cross-cultural competence by 1) performing regular department “temperature checks” (e.g. surveys to identify blind spots and opportunities for improvement), 2) promoting activities (seminars, social events, etc.) that celebrate our diverse backgrounds, 3) partnering with IU School of Medicine and IU Indianapolis with onboarding and continuous professional development activities that seek to demystify cultural differences and promote awareness and mutual understanding/respect.

Share your feedback

The IDEA Plan is not meant to be an exhaustive or concrete plan; on the contrary, we welcome input and suggestions, and encourage engagement with our efforts.

Submit anonymous feedback

Email the IDEA committee