Butler University’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement
Ovid Butler and the Disciples of Christ members who wanted a university away from the “pernicious influences of slavery” chartered Butler University as North Western Christian University (NWCU) in 1850. Founded on the values of diversity, inclusivity and equality, NWCU opened in 1855 admitting women and people of color on an equal basis with white males, which was a radical stance at the time. Today we work to continue to create a community where all can thrive regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, economic means, marital or parental status, or political affiliation.
DEI Statement
Our mission at Butler University embodies what we aspire to uphold for current and future generations of learners, educators, and leaders. We have a perpetual responsibility as an academic institution to cultivate a campus community that is intentionally welcoming while creating an equitable learning and working environment. Our underlying commitments to our founding value of providing equal access to education for all regardless of background, identity, or perspectives serve as a guiding post to actualize our mission and efforts to be a university where everyone is valued, inspired, respected, and able to flourish.
Shared Language
As we address key aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), it is important that we develop a common glossary of concepts and terms for reference. Recognizing that these important terms have a variety of interpretations and meanings, we offer these as a starting point. A shared language will help guide our overall efforts to ensure a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus environment. These definitions were compiled from existing definitions and/or drafted through campus processes. It is not an exhaustive list. The library also maintains several libguides with DE&I resources.
Accessibility means that all members of the Butler community have the supports necessary to equitably access new learning, to fully engage in all events and organizations, and to benefit from all institutional services, resources, and opportunities.
The language used to describe a person can either build them up or break them down. We emphasize using language that will empower individuals affiliated with Butler.
Asset-based language focuses on strengths that a student brings to the learning community, acknowledges opportunity, and affirms diversity in thought, culture, and traits as positive attributes. Examples include…
- Unique, distinctive, diverse
- Learning differences
- Under-resourced
- Valued community member
- Committed
- Ambitious
- Opportunity-seeker
Deficit language pinpoints the weaknesses, highlights the inadequacies, makes assumptions, reinforces stereotypes and emphasizes differences. In turn, a student’s performance, identity, and behavior are negatively impacted. Examples include…
- At-risk
- Different from a “Butler student“
- Disadvantaged
- Underprivileged
- Lacking in family support
- Low socioeconomic status
- Minority
- Monolithic
- “Those students”
- Remedial
- Unprepared
- Vulnerable
Welcoming, including, respecting and honoring a diverse body of students, faculty and staff, where differences are valued and everyone’s well-being is supported.
Sense of belonging refers to students’ perceived social support on campus, a feeling or sensation of connectedness, and the experience of mattering or feeling cared about, accepted, respected, valued by, and important to the campus community or others on campus such as faculty, staff, and peers.
Citation: Strayhorn, T. (2018). College students’ sense of belonging: A key to educational success for all students (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Culturally Responsive Teaching means an approach to teaching that makes meaningful connections between what students learn in schools and their cultures, languages, and life experiences.
Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, and it encompasses all the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. It is all-inclusive and recognizes everyone and every group as part of the diversity that should be valued. A broad definition includes not only race, ethnicity, and gender—the groups that most often come to mind when the term “diversity” is used—but also age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance.
Citation: Racial Equity Tools. (2023). Racial equity tools glossary. https://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary
A continual striving of students, faculty and staff to make meaningful contributions toward advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion on campus and in our communities.
Equity is defined as “the state, quality or ideal of being just, impartial and fair.” The concept of equity is synonymous with fairness and justice. It is helpful to think of equity as not simply a desired state of affairs or a lofty value. To be achieved and sustained, equity needs to be thought of as a structural and systemic concept.
Citation: Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2021, April 14). Equity, Inclusion and other racial justice definitions. https://www.aecf.org/blog/racial-justice-definitions
Inclusion is the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. More than simply diversity and numerical representation, inclusion involves authentic and empowered participation and a true sense of belonging.
Citation: Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2021, April 14). Equity, Inclusion and other racial justice definitions. https://www.aecf.org/blog/racial-justice-definitions
Inclusive Pedagogy means a student-centered approach to teaching in which educators create an inviting and engaging learning environment for all students with varied backgrounds, learning styles, and physical and cognitive abilities.
Interactional Diversity is a process-focused concept of institutional diversification that stresses the importance of creating opportunities and spaces for intergroup interaction as a means to address implicit bias and improve individual attitudes toward members of outgroups.
Intersectionality is the recognition that identity factors such as race, gender identity, socioeconomic background, disability status, national origin, sexual orientation, etc., intersect within people’s lives to create multiplicative experiences of oppression and injustice.
Racial Justice means systematic and proactive reinforcement of the public policies, institutional practices, cultural messages, and social norms needed to achieve and sustain racial equity.
Representation ensures that students, faculty, and staff across identities and backgrounds* are appropriately reflected in participation, leadership, and decision making *e.g., race and ethnicity, ability and disability, age, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, immigration status.
Social Justice means equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.