DEI Minute

April is National Autism Acceptance Month. By definition, students with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have some problems which may interfere with receptive or expressive communication. Some of these differences are very subtle and can be misinterpreted as volitional acts on the part of the student. It’s important to understand...

Happy Ramadan: This year, Ramadan is from March 10 - April 9 with Eid-al-Fitr taking place on April 10 . We are re-sharing correspondence sent to our faculty and staff earlier this week (below). Imposter Syndrome Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough for academia? Do you ever...

What is the difference between belonging and mattering? And how can this inform our work around DEI efforts? In the 2023 book Academic Belonging in Higher Education , authors Cook-Sather, Felten, Stewart & Weston write, “The rhetoric of belonging can be alienating to students, particularly students with historically marginalized identities,...

Every February, we celebrate Black History Month by recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of our Black and African American community. Before there was a month, there was “Negro History Week,” established in 1926 by U.S. historian Carter G. Woodson who became known as the “father of Black History.” Woodson envisioned...

Spring Semester Updates Welcome to the spring 2024 semester! Every two weeks, the CEAE JEDI Committee sends this brief email (designed to be read in one minute or less) to the department’s students, staff, research faculty, and faculty on DEI topics. Today’s email is meant to share some reminders and...

Microaggressions are brief, behavioral, verbal, and environmental insensitivities by potentially well-meaning individuals that convey insults to individuals of marginalized groups. It is different from everyday rudeness or incivility because they tend to be constant and are reminders that the person’s status is equivalent to that of a second-class individual. Typically,...

Within the academic realm, the influence of gender on knowledge-seeking is a dynamic interplay shaped by historical legacies, societal expectations, and ongoing initiatives for inclusivity. Traditionally, gender norms have guided the access to education, influencing the perceived suitability of specific fields of study for individuals of different genders. However, in...

National Transgender Awareness Week, Nov. 13 – 19, is a time to celebrate, uplift and honor our transgender friends, family, students, staff, and faculty. The week concludes on November 20 th with the Transgender Day of Remembrance; an annual observance that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives...

CU Boulder has issued a few statements on the Israel-Hamas War, including one on October 11 which states “We stand against all acts of violence and human suffering, and recognize the profound effects of the crisis on people living in the region, as well as Israeli and Palestinian scholars and...

The term “neurodivergent” refers to those whose mental or neurological function differs from what is considered “typical” or “normal.” It is an umbrella term for people with ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia, etc. Because neurodivergent students’ brains function differently than “neurotypical” students, traditional college course structure may not effectively tap into...