Diversity Mark
The award is given to those convenors that undergo a process of review and reflection with their students to ensure that they have considered authors and perspectives from divergent backgrounds, such as race, gender, sexuality, disability, internationalisation, and socio-economic contexts within their discipline. Diversity Mark aims to support staff in representing diverse perspectives and authors in their reading list, which in turn leads to a more inclusive learning experience for students.
Diversity Mark is a collaborative initiative run in conjunction with Students, Academic Liaison Team, Kent Union, and Student Success Team.
Read our Centre for Journalism mid-project report.
Increasing belonging
Evidence suggests that course materials that are inclusive to a diverse student body have a positive impact. A recent joint report from UUK and the NUS, BAME attainment at UK Universities (2019) states;
A greater focus is needed from universities, working with their students, on ensuring that BAME students have a good sense of belonging at their university, and on understanding how a poor sense of belonging might be contributing to low levels of engagement and progression to postgraduate study.
A minor change to your course materials could make a major change to the way a student, or a group of students, responds to the course.