Definition of Diversity

As an academic unit of the Holland College of Arts and Media, the Department of Mass Media affirms its commitment to vigorously pursue equal opportunity, inclusivity and a sense of belonging in its employment programs, curricular and co-curricular activities. Specifically, its commitment is to create an environment in which no individual is given or denied opportunity because of race, color, sexual identity, gender, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, class, age, ability or political identity; to celebrate the rich contributions that every person brings to American society; and to increase participation in programs and activities by all faculty, staff and students. To do this we have identified three areas (environment, recruitment, and scholarship and professional development), as well as actionable objectives for each area.

Statement of Objectives

OUTCOME I. The Department of Mass Media will create an environment that respects and celebrates a representative learning community in a global society. 

1. Continue to adapt curriculum and courses so students are prepared to be competitive in the richly diverse media landscape. 
2. Maintain a required course in the core curriculum that addresses the media’s historical representation of under-represented identities. 
3. Prioritize units of study in our courses related to topics identified in our definition of diversity.
4. Recruit and retain qualified faculty and professional staff to create a broadly representative department that is able to integrate an appreciation of diversity and cultural representation in their work.
5. Working in conjunction with the University’s Human Resources Department, we will utilize and continually refine a search and hiring process that is designed to maximize the search for faculty candidates and professional staff from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. 
6. We will expand on the diversity of our resident faculty and professional staff by inviting guest speakers and recruiting supplemental faculty who have professional expertise and represent a range of different perspectives, opinions and backgrounds. 
7. We will provide experiential learning opportunities for students that foster accurate representation of diverse perspectives, opinions and backgrounds in the content we create.

OUTCOME II. The Department of Mass Media will engage in active recruitment that leads to a student body that reflects the socioeconomic makeup of our state and the needs of an increasingly diverse society. 

1. We will regularly participate in targeted programming designed to recruit and retain a culturally diverse student body.
2. We will participate in targeted programming within the Southeast Missouri State University campus communities, either through sponsoring activities and events, or significantly collaborating with other SEMO entities on diversity-focused initiatives. 
3. We will participate in targeted programming, either through sponsoring activities and events, or significantly collaborating with other entities on diversity-focused initiatives.
4. We will seek to increase scholarship funds designated to enhance the diversity of our student population.  

OUTCOME III. The Department of Mass Media will engage in the creation of new knowledge and understanding around our definition of diversity through scholarship and professional development. 

1. We will produce scholarly and creative works that advance understanding concerning our definition of diversity.
2. We will engage in professional development activities that promote our definition of diversity on our campus and beyond, as either creators or participants.  

Standard 4 - Diversity

These measures and analysis are reported to the Assessment Committee

amended May 3, 2023