Diversity

Villanova Diversity Statement

In support of the University’s mission,Villanova will be a community of men

andwomen increasingly diverse in culture,ethnicity, race and socioeconomic

statusand welcoming to individuals of

diversereligious traditions.

Villanova Diversity StatementVillanova University, as a Catholic Augustinian institutionof higher education, recognizes diversity asan integral component of the teaching and learningexperience and an essential element of the ongoingintellectual, social and spiritual development of everymember of the Villanova community. Accordingly,Villanova University will be a diverse community.We commit ourselves to cultivating an academicenvironment marked by genuine curiosity aboutdifferent perspectives, ardent receptivity to knowledgegenerated through intercultural connectionsand genuine sensitivity to the variety of humanexperiences marked by domestic and global differences.

Villanova Diversity Statement

Everything we do as aUniversity should send a

clear message that “all are welcome here”.

Diversity and You!Diversity is defined as

acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status.

Numerous benefits to embracing diversity.

Diversity and You!

Roadblocks Ways to Overcome

Biases Recognizing that they exist; willingness to move beyond

Stereotypes Bias-free, inclusive communication

Prejudices Understanding and sincerely caring about how you affect others

Not wanting to get involved

Diversity and You! Stereotyping and its Effects:

Stereotypes have 3 characteristics: They imply that all people in the group are the same.

“You know how men are.” They contain a judgment. Notice that the judgment

often reveals more about the stereotyper’s beliefs or expectations than it does about the stereotyped individual. “Young people today don’t have a good work ethic.”

Stereotypes are fairly inflexible.By seeing all people in a group as the same, you deny

people their individuality.You distort your own ability to get a clear view about the

person in question leading you to prejudge or misjudge others.

Stereotyping is often demeaning and offensive; you are treating the person as less valuable limiting THEIR opportunities.

Diversity

There are two dimensions of diversity; Primary dimensions, which are factors that

are born to us. Primary dimensions would include age, sex, race,

skin- color and other things we have absolutely no control over.

Secondary dimensions, which are learned.Secondary dimensions include education, religion,

socioeconomic status, geographic location, etc…

Diversity

Our country’s demographic make up is becoming increasingly more diverse. Which means our workforce is also more diverse.

So lets honor and appreciate the new workforce.

DiversityWe must also deal appropriately with

various cultural differences such as religious holidays or rituals; language barriers and training.

Everyone has something of value to offer, if we can just take the time to learn about each another.

Race:Refers to genetic or biologically based similarities among people which are distinguishable and unique and function to mark or separate groups of people from one another.

(Race is less biological…more political, social)

Ethnicity:Refers to a wide variety of groups who might share a language, historical origins, religion, identification with a common nation-state, or cultural system.

Culture:A learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, and norms, which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”Steven

Covey