Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Our Department Values & Actions
The Department of Psychology at UM is committed to fostering diversity in its many forms, including race, gender, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, socioeconomic status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. This commitment is evidenced in the content of our curriculum and clinical training, the foci of our research and programming, and the make-up of our faculty and student body. We work together to produce and disseminate knowledge in our respective fields that supports the long-term well-being of our diverse society.
The Department of Psychology's commitment is also shown by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee which promotes the infusion of DEI principles into academic instruction, departmental policies, extracurricular activities, and events. Further, the DEI Committee strives to provide an inclusive and safe space for all who interface with the UM Department of Psychology. The committee is comprised of volunteer faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students. Anyone may join the committee or attend meetings, which are currently scheduled for every 2 weeks during the academic year. DEI Committee members are available for consultation regarding course development and syllabi, instructional activities, and concerns about DEI-related matters.
Land Acknowledgment
The Department of Psychology and the University of Montana acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. Today, we honor the path they have always shown us in caring for this place for the generations to come.
General Resources
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice at the University of Montana
Some key definitions, as used within the UM DEI Plan
Diversity: Representation of all the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another.
Equity: Evaluating systems and institutions to identify and remove biases in the distribution of opportunities and resources.
Inclusion: Ensuring differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard, and every individual feels a sense of belonging.
Here are several useful resources on DEI and inclusive teaching compiled by the UM Office of Organizational Learning and Development:
The Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence (CREDE). CREDE is a federally funded research and development program focused on improving the education of students whose ability to reach their potential is challenged by language or cultural barriers, race, geographic location, or poverty. The CREDE website contains a wide array of resources, reports, educational practitioner briefs, and professional development training to assist in the education of students from diverse backgrounds.
Learning For Justice includes free educational resources - articles, guides, lessons, films, webinars, frameworks and more - aimed at helping foster shared learning and reflection for educators, young people, caregivers and all community members.
Resources for creating an inclusive learning and teaching environment from
- APA guidelines for inclusive language
- Develop a DEI syllabus resource for the Psychology Department
- Bias Response Team
Resources to support psychological practice:
Understanding one's own biases and assumptions is critical.
The American Psychological Association (APA) encourages bias-free language.
APA provides Multicultural Guidelines, an ecological approach to context, identity, and intersectionality and resources for working with minoritized populations.
Cultural humility and cultural competence are foundational for providing effective practice for clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Understanding social identities and systems of oppression are important within this context.
The National Association of School Psychologists includes a number of resources related to diversity and social justice to support children and their families.