Statement on Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

The Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Springfield commits to diversity, inclusion, and social justice (DISJ) in its internal practices, principles, and policies, and in its engagement with the university, the community, and the culture at large. We embrace the idea that this commitment requires ongoing effort and investment.

As a department, we define social justice as an active and collaborative commitment to promote equity and inclusion for all groups on campus and in our society. We advocate for fairness and empowerment for all individuals regardless of ethnic and social backgrounds because we believe that each individual has the right to dignity, respect, full access to life鈥檚 opportunities, and the resources to realize their full potential.

We also recognize and value the strengths and unique contributions of a diverse community because it enriches our experiences and worldviews and helps us be better global citizens. We believe that to be effective, our commitment must be grounded in a dynamic, sensitive understanding of the unique present and historical realities of various groups. Our understanding of DISJ must be active, complex, and attuned to the diverse histories and cultural contexts of various groups and individuals who have been and continue to be impacted by prejudice and discrimination in its many forms. We stand in solidarity with all groups that suffer the impacts of prejudice and discrimination, including but not limited to racism, ableism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia, and homophobia.

We are taking the following steps with the intention of promoting lasting change and transformation: 

  • We are examining and, as necessary, updating our department鈥檚 search processes to ensure that we utilize the best practices in equitable hiring. 
  • We are researching, implementing, and assessing best practices for addressing diversity, inclusion, and social justice in our teaching.
  • We have implemented a standard item of business at department meetings to check in on our progress toward our commitment.

We will communicate the actions and products of the DISJ committee and department at large to the campus community in a semesterly blog for ongoing discussion and accountability.

DISJ Committee

In alignment with the department鈥檚 commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice, the DISJ committee was formed as a standing committee in spring 2023 to provide resources and guidance that promote DISJ within the department. Students are always welcome to share suggestions or feedback with any of the committee members!

The DISJ committee welcomes any feedback and/or suggestions from students on ways to promote or enhance DISJ within the department. Please email the committee chairperson or submit feedback and suggestions anonymously to our .

Our DISJ Student Member

An election for the DISJ committee鈥檚 student member is held at the beginning of the fall semester each academic year. The DISJ student member attends DISJ committee meetings and represents the students鈥� interests in promoting DISJ initiatives for the department. If you are interested in self-nominating for the position, please contact the committee chairperson for more information.

DISJ Committee鈥檚 Recent Activities

In AY 2024-25, the DISJ committee worked on several initiatives:

  • We started sending out an email newsletter with DISJ news, announcements, resources, and other information to psychology students once a semester.
  • We collaborated with Psi Chi and Psychology Club on two events in spring 2024: a diversity trivia event at the UIS Student Union and a food collection for the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network.
  • We presented the DISJ-focused syllabi template to the department and faculty began implementing the template in their spring 2025 courses.
  • One of the DISJ committee members presented the DISJ-focused syllabi template at the UIS Center for Faculty Excellence to share the template with faculty across campus.
  • We conducted a student survey on the department鈥檚 cultural climate in spring 2025.
  • Finally, we worked on developing assessment methods to systematically evaluate the impact of the DISJ efforts within the department.

You can learn more about the DISJ committee鈥檚 past and ongoing efforts in the and their .

DISJ- Related Faculty Resources

  • DISJ focused  and for the UIS Department of Psychology

DISJ-Related Student Resources