Diversity and Inclusion

Inclusive Excellence: The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence through Diversity

Inclusive excellence (IE) is the engine that drives the value and practice of diversity and inclusiveness at the University of Arizona. At the center of IE is the recognition and acceptance of the talents, world views, perceptions, cultures and skills that diverse communities bring to the educational enterprise that can be harnessed to prepare students for leading, living and working in a diverse world. Native American, LGBTQ, Asian American, White, Latino, African American, women, veterans, people with disabilities, Jewish, Christian, International, Muslim, fraternities and sororities, athletes, alumni and many other communities of students, staff and faculty contribute positively to all dimensions of the university. Every individual and group at UA is a critical component of and contributor to diversity and inclusiveness. Making a difference in diversity at the University of Arizona is the essence of inclusive excellence.

diversity programs at the Graduate College

Our Goal

We want to transform UA into the quintessential IE university for the 21st century. Achieving this goal will depend on how well the campus community values and engages the rich diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni and community constituents. More than a short-term project or the effort of a single office, this comprehensive approach engages everyone in complete cultural institutional transformation by embedding and practicing IE in every endeavor, aspect and level of the university. The goal is to make diversity and inclusiveness a habit that is implemented and practiced by everyone consistently throughout the university. To practice diversity and inclusiveness is to achieve excellence.

Our Purpose

We seek to create the comprehensively engaged university with the expectation that everyone will make a contribution to inclusive excellence. Diversity and inclusiveness are core values for the University of Arizona and offer a competitive advantage in attracting faculty, staff, students and their partners. Moreover, diversity allows the institution to prepare students to be leaders in global contexts.