Many DEI initiatives are viewed as generally effective by students and educators
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17832085 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hanna M McCaslin (0000-0002-5366-2310, Colorado State University), Trent Pearce (Colorado State University), Sharon J Martinson (0000-0002-3383-0735, Colorado State University), Jasmine Nelson (0000-0002-0830-8881, Colorado State University), Edder Antunez (Colorado State University), Anahita K Verahrami (0000-0002-5342-948X, Colorado State University), Sara Bombaci (0000-0001-7734-2381, Colorado State University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992 |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1057/s41599-026-06524-5 |
| OpenAlex | W7126279430 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 80 |
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are integral to many U.S. universities’ missions to foster supportive campus communities. Despite progress, challenges like limited resources and political opposition remain. Inconsistent evaluations of DEI programs highlight the need for rigorous research to identify effective practices across diverse contexts and populations. Using a survey of students and faculty across North America, we show that most (72.5%) initiatives were moderately to very effective for the majority (74%) of respondents. Students rated DEI efforts more effective than faculty, particularly accessibility measures and symbolic practices like pronoun sharing and DEI statements. Effective strategies included family care support, diverse leadership, mentorship, outdoor accessibility, and facilitated discussions fostering critical thinking. Women, LGBTQIA+, and non-traditional academics found certain initiatives particularly effective, although ratings were broadly consistent. These findings challenge claims of DEI ineffectiveness, underscoring the universal benefits of inclusive practices and the importance of sustaining and improving them
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |