Institutional DEI Definitions

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council established the institutional definitions below to provide a framework to create a shared understanding of the work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at Empire State University. 

Diversity: As defined by SUNY Empire, diversity includes all aspects of human difference, including but not limited to, age, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression and identity, language heritage, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status, status as a Veteran, citizen status, and worldview. Diversity at SUNY Empire focus is the commitment to and embracing of individual and group differences in social identities, lived experiences, and perspectives.

Equity: The creation of opportunities to ensure that historically underrepresented populations are provided the access and resources they need to ensure that all SUNY Empire outcomes reflect justice and fairness.

Inclusion: At SUNY Empire, inclusion involves authentic and empowered participation to create a true sense of belonging. Inclusion refers to "the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity—in the curriculum, co-curriculum, and communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical) with which individuals might connect—in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions" (Clayton-Pedersen and Clayton-Pedersen, 2008). 

Authored, endorsed, and submitted by the members of the DEI Council and approved by Senate on June 24, 2022.