Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion FAQ

Fostering a vibrant intellectual community demands an environment that uplifts and supports everyone, because we each have our own unique perspectives to share. At Butler, we strive to create this environment so that all feel valued and supported while learning and working here. 

Learn more about DEI and Butler 

Does Butler’s strategic vision include an emphasis on diversity, equity, and/or inclusion? 

Yes! Butler University’s Strategic Priority 5 is to create an intentionally diverse, inclusive, and equitable learning and working environment by:  

  • Strengthening institutional capacity to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion,
  • Recruiting, retaining, and cultivating students, faculty, and staff from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds and identities, 
  • Fostering a climate of respect among all students, faculty, staff, and administrators from a range of diverse backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives, and 
  • Advancing inclusion through the curriculum, co-curricular learning, scholarship, and community engagement. 

Consistent with Strategic Priority 5, the annual Faculty Activity Report now requires faculty to provide evidence of continual learning and contributions to our university’s efforts to enhance compositional diversity and create and maintain an inclusive working and learning environment in performance evaluations. This gives department chairs, program directors, and college deans the mandate to evaluate each faculty member’s level of engagement with Strategic Priority 5. Faculty and staff development in areas of teaching, service and scholarship that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) should be demonstrated in the annual Faculty Activity Report (FAR). 

The resources found below support faculty and staff efforts to contribute to Strategic Priority 5. 

Where can I find the most up-to-date information about university-wide DEI programs, resources, and opportunities are there at Butler?
For the most up-to-date information, please visit Butler’s DEI site

What DEI-related wellness resources are available to faculty and staff?
A list of resources can be found at the DEI Wellness Resources page. 

What is the Inclusion Advocate program and how do I get involved?
To learn more about the IA program, please visit The IA program site..  

Are there funds to support the development of new DEI initiative?
Yes! Members of the Butler community are invited to submit proposals to the DEI Innovation Fund, which provides investments in university-wide or unit-specific initiatives that advance diversity, equity and inclusion Learn more about DEI funding opportunities. 

I would like to be a more inclusive teacher; what support is there for me to do so?
Inclusive Pedagogy Workshops are currently being developed to support faculty in providing academic support for students with historically marginalized and underrepresented identities and backgrounds. Contact Dr. Su-Mei Ooi for more information.