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Psychology
Mailing Address: Porter 200

Diversity in the Psychology Department

The Department's Commitment to Diversity

The Psychology Department at Ohio University values the variety of perspectives and knowledge that diversity brings to our community. The department is committed to promoting diversity in research, teaching, and student recruitment in all its forms – identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinions. Consistent with the ADDRESSING model, diversity includes, but is not limited to: age, developmental disabilities, acquired disabilities, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, indigenous group membership, nationality, gender, and gender identity.

The department is committed to promoting diversity through inclusive practices, policies, curricula, and programs that lead to a welcoming, respectful, supportive, and affirming environment. Correspondingly, we will work toward the following diversity and inclusion goals:

  • Committing to continuous learning and improvement, by welcoming honest, open, and respectful feedback and discussion regarding topics of diversity and using this feedback to improve.
  • Recruiting and retaining faculty, students, and staff of diverse backgrounds to our department and departmental programs.
  • Incorporating diversity and principles of inclusivity in our academic curriculum.
  • Enhancing awareness of diversity issues through ongoing research and training.

The Department's Commitment to Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression 

The Psychology Department acknowledges and denounces the systemic oppression caused by white supremacy and institutional racism that has led to the marginalization and violence against Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color.

We commit to personal and institutional examination of bias and systemic advantage/oppression to address concerns and barriers to learning and education.

We commit to combatting racism and other forms of oppression by fostering inclusivity and implementing policies and practices that dismantle systemic racism and oppression within our university and beyond.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DISJ) Committee

Functions

The responsibilities of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Committee include the following:

  • Advancing a diverse faculty and student body
  • Providing faculty and students with training regarding diversity, inclusion, and social justice issues
  • Promoting research and teaching related to diversity, inclusion, and social justice
  • Promoting a psychologically safe and inclusive organizational climate

Membership

The Assistant Chair for Graduate Studies and the Assistant Chair for Undergraduate Studies are ex officio members. In addition, the diversity advocate from each section’s admissions committee will serve on the committee. There also are two graduate student representatives, one from each section, selected by the Graduate Representative Council (GRC). There are also two undergraduate representatives, selected by Psi Chi. In addition, although these individuals will serve as the core committee, the membership is open to any other individuals who wish to contribute to the goals of the committee. If interested in joining the committee, please contact one of the Psychology DISJ Core members such as the Director of Clinical Training, Director of Experimental Training, Assistant Chair for Graduate Studies, Assistant Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Undergraduate Representative, or Graduate Student Representative.

Teams Channel

Everyone in the Psychology Department, regardless of DISJ committee membership, can request access to the DISJ Teams channel that has recordings of Core meetings, notes from each subcommittee, and resources. To request access, please email Brian Wymbs, wymbs@ohio.edu.

Subcommittees

  • Curriculum Training – Address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in across the department’s undergraduate and graduate curriculum to meet the needs of the students in our classes and to educate and train a culturally competent student body. Areas of action: (a) review and propose changes to undergraduate curriculum; (b) review and propose changes to the graduate curriculum; and (c) identify and share resources with instructors.
  • Departmental Support – Identify, develop, and share student and faculty support resources.
  • Survey – Develop and administer survey to assess the strengths and weaknesses/areas for improvement of the department in regard to Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DISJ).

Additional Aspects of Diversity

Military/Veteran Culture

Student Veterans of America

Veterans Center

Also see Commuter Student Services for a veteran and commuter lounge open 24 hours for students.

Psychology DISJ Newsletter

The Ohio University Psychology Department’s Diversity Inclusion and Social Justice (DISJ) committee started to regularly distribute a newsletter to spotlight Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) happenings at the university and within the department.