UMBC’s Political Science Department is committed to enhancing the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of our curriculum, pedagogy, faculty, and student outreach. Our discipline has a long history of exclusion that will take years to rectify, and we are making immediate changes that will continue into the future.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Political Science department builds on the university’s stated commitment to “inclusive excellence” by promoting an “inclusive culture” and “welcom[ing] people of all backgrounds into the life of the university.”
What does Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility mean in the POLI department?
Diversity
- Fostering a learning environment responsive to the needs and capacities of students from many different backgrounds and with a variety of learning styles.
- Hiring diverse faculty members and including scholarship from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups in political science and higher education.
- Shaping campus and department institutions to reflect the variety of backgrounds, perspectives and beliefs among students, faculty, and staff.
Equity
- Treating students, staff, and faculty fairly and creating equal access to campus resources.
- Engaging in an intentional and ongoing practice of actively removing and deconstructing barriers faced by historically marginalized and underrepresented groups in political science and higher education.
- Identifying disparities in access to opportunity, networks, resources, and support within the university’s ecosystem, and implementing strategies that provide opportunities and create a positive impact for all.
Inclusion
- Creating an environment in which the voices of students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds within the department can be heard and respected.
- Creating an environment where faculty, staff, and students feel empowered to disagree and dissent as well as accept and affirm within the boundaries of healthy and productive discourse.
- Incorporating broader viewpoints in course readings, materials, discussions, etc.
Accessibility
- Affirming the university’s commitment to expanding and providing access to disadvantaged students in all of our programs, activities, and services.
- Structuring class materials and resources to be easily accessible to students with diverse capabilities and backgrounds.
- Actively collaborating with UMBC SDS and ADS to provide formal accommodations to individual students which are instrumental for their success in the department.
What have we done?
- Created the DEIA Committee comprised of POLI faculty and undergraduate student representatives
- Met regularly with student representatives to discuss curriculum changes
- Individual faculty implemented curriculum and pedagogical changes in response to student feedback and committee discussions. Here are some examples:
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- Incorporating broader viewpoints in course readings, materials, discussions, etc.
- Including scholarship from or about historically marginalized groups in political science and higher education
- Designing assignments and activities that are culturally relevant and inclusive
- Developing assessment measures that recognize diverse learning styles
- Structuring classes that promote equitable access to resources and establishes community among diverse students
- Revised the Department Promotion and Tenure policies to recognize faculty DEIA contributions in research, teaching, and service, in coordination with UMBC’s system-wide commitment to DEIA
- Created a hiring Plan for Inclusive Excellence for future full-time faculty searches in accordance with CAHSS’s recommendations and in coordination with STRIDE
- Administered the first-ever Student Climate Survey
In Spring 2023 The Department was awarded a College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Pedagogy and Teaching grant to develop a Department Climate Survey for undergraduate students. In consultation with members of the DEIA Committee and undergraduate student assistants, the survey was created and administered on Qualtrics in May 2023. Fully anonymous, the survey included a broad base of respondents, including Political Science majors, minors, and other students who enrolled in at least one political science course. Going forward, the survey will be administered at the end of each academic year and a summary of the results will be posted on this website.
What are we doing?
- Hiring a full-time tenure-track faculty member in American Government who specializes in Race and Ethnic Politics
- Implementing our Hiring Plan for Inclusive Excellence in additional tenure-track faculty searches
- Meeting regularly to discuss curriculum and pedagogical changes and measures of success
- Evaluating the results of the Department Climate Survey and developing a list of specific action items for AY 23-24
- Continuing to administer the Department Climate Survey and evaluating results
- Developing culturally relevant and inclusive course offerings
- Increasing student awareness of the Department’s DEIA initiatives as part of a university-wide commitment to inclusive excellence
Additional Resources:
Check out our own Professor Filomeno’s efforts on DEI initiatives
Some of the resources below do an excellent job showing the diversity of views found within Political Science:
- Database of Women Experts and Authors in Political Science
https://www.womenalsoknowstuff.com/#)
- Database of POC Experts and Authors in Political Science
https://sites.google.com/view/pocexperts/home?authuser=2)
- National Conference of Black Political Scientists: National Political Science Review (website:
https://www.ncobps.org/about-us/national-political-science-review)
- BLM Micro-Syllabus developed by Nadia E. Brown* (website: