WPI Values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the STEM Community
Diversity
Individual differences (e.g., personality, learning styles, life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, physical or cognitive abilities, as well as cultural, political, religious, or other affiliations) that can be engaged in the service of learning.
Equity
Creating opportunities for equal access and success for historically underrepresented populations, such as racial and ethnic minority and low-income students, in three main areas: representional equity, resource equity, and equity-mindedness. Representional equity involves proportional participation at all levels, resource equity is the distribution of educational resources in order to close equity gaps, and equity-mindedness is the demonstration of an awareness of and willingness to address equity issues among institutional leaders and staff.
Inclusion
The active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity—in people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical). This engagement with diversity has the potential to increase one’s awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions.
WPI’s Sustainable Inclusive Excellence Action Plan, or Project Inclusion is a three-phase plan with the purpose of engaging the community and hearing the voices of maginalized and underrepresented communities.
Where is there DEI at WPI?
WPI’s Diversity and Inclusion Office is the main office that DEI at WPI stems from. There is also the office of multicultural affairs, LGBTQ+ support, collegiate religious center, and more. DEI is reflected in events, efforts, and organizations across campus. Such efforts include but are not limited to the Gender-Inclusive Restrooms on campus, nursing rooms, the OASIS House, suggested pronoun practices, and accessibility accomodations, so no one on WPI campus feels uncomfortable. There are also a variety of student organizations that span many cultures and backgrounds for students to find a fellow group of students to support and relate to them. Some of these organizations include but are not limited to the Alliance, the Black Student Union, Active Minds, and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. The student community DEI page goes further into inclusive organizations at WPI. WPI is also involved in the YMCA USA’s Stand Against Racism campaign.