300 Inclusions Statements Survey
What the word "inclusion" means to our stakeholders
Inclusion can look different from different perspectives—each person brings their own unique definition and understanding of what it means. In 2023 and 2024, CSE Project Inclusion asked 300 stakeholders to write on an index card what inclusion meant to them.
A shared definition
The following paragraph is an initial summary prepared by combining the 300 definitions from students, faculty, staff, and alumni using AI. The combined statement was manually edited for accuracy.
"Inclusion is the intentional and active practice of creating a welcoming, respectful, and supportive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered. It fosters a sense of belonging by encouraging full participation and authentic self-expression without fear of judgment or exclusion. Inclusion ensures that every voice is acknowledged, every perspective is considered, and every individual is treated with respect and given equal opportunities, regardless of their background. It also involves cultivating a space for meaningful discussions, where differences are recognized, accepted, and leveraged to build a stronger, more connected community."
Individual definitions
Here is a sampling of what CSE stakeholders had to say:
Opportunities
"Inclusion is recognizing each individual's unique strengths, weaknesses, needs, and goals."
"[Inclusion is the] equitable distribution of opportunities, experiences, and funding regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic background, sexual orientation, religion, or gender.”
Communication
“To me, inclusion is about providing space for everyone to feel comfortable and open to share their honest thoughts and opinions. It [is] also about having hard discussions around subjects that may cause discomfort in a respectful manner.”
"Inclusion to me means listening to everyone and considering what their perspective brings to the table rather than simply how one would or should respond."
"Inclusion is transparency in communications from decision makers."
Belonging
"Inclusion means valuing and respecting the diverse perspectives, experiences, and identities of individuals, and creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported."
Fair Treatment and Trust
“Inclusion to me is not a single thing but is a collection of related items. For instance, it involves making sure our program has students from a variety of backgrounds. It includes teaching e.g. motivating students in different ways. It involves staff, who are often overlooked. And it involves faculty in many ways as well.”
"Inclusion means all people have equal access and opportunities to all services. All voices are involved during the planning and decision making process. Policies and practice are open for all peoples regardless of identities."
Decision Making
“Inclusion means giving everyone a voice that is heard and weighted. Giving everyone a safe space to voice that voice. Giving everyone a safe space to be part of the decision making and process.”
Psychological Safety
"Inclusion is about creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable to express themselves authentically and share their thoughts without the fear of negative consequences."
