The Department of English values diversity in its faculty, students, and staff, and in the work it does to advance the goals of its discipline. As a result, it seeks opportunities to enhance and extend the diverse and inclusive elements of its teaching, research, and service, and their impact on university and community lives.

The Department of English defines diversity as accepting, respecting, and recognizing individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political views, languages, or ideologies. Exploring these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment creates understanding beyond simple tolerance, honoring and celebrating the varying aspects of diversity within individual identities (definition adapted from the University of Oregon's "Definition of Diversity").

The Department pursues diversity by:

• developing courses that embrace diversity in their content
• using teaching strategies that challenge and engage all members of the classroom community
• encouraging faculty research or expertise that supports diversity inquiry
• recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff, and attracting and retaining diverse students.

The Department seeks to reach out to other communities in a range of interests and concerns, and prizes its community collaborations that have an impact on enhancing diversity and civic responsibility.