Diversity and Inclusion

Our Statement on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity

The College of Journalism and Communications understands the importance of diversity as a contribution to the industries of journalism and communications in our increasingly multicultural nation and globalized marketplace. We value diversity and the development of competence in intercultural communication and behavior for all who are a part of our college, industry and society. Thus, we are committed to incorporating diversity and inclusiveness in our faculty, staff, student, curriculum, research, immersion properties and culture.

We embrace diversity as a shared responsibility among faculty, staff, and students and strive for tangible expressions of this responsibility. We are committed to fostering a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals of all races, genders, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, identities and abilities, to express their culture and perspectives through the art and science of journalism and communications.

— Adopted by the faculty April 12, 2017

Governing Documents

A collection of formal documents that help us in our efforts. MORE

Working Groups

The volunteers among our faculty, staff and students who are working to create an inclusive, diverse and equitable CJC. MORE

Our Director

Read more about the CJC Director of Inclusion and Diversity. MORE

Welcome to the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee website. Our group is composed of elected and volunteer members of faculty and staff at the CJC. We are working to ensure that the CJC becomes a preeminent institution on matters of inclusion, diversity and equity at all levels of activities – from outreach programs to pre-undergrads (pictured above), to a pluralistic representation among students in our bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, from the recruitment and retention of world-class and diverse faculty and staff, to the content and voices represented on our media properties serving communities in North Florida. The group works as advocates toward an inclusive and equitable environment in the service of living up to the goals stated above.

A Focus on Hiring

CJC has stepped up its effort to broaden the pool of potential job candidates to include more people from underrepresented groups. Students, with production help from Telecommunication Lecturer Iman Zawahry and script by Advertising Lecturer Benny Torres, created this video which has been shared widely on CJC social media channels to help recruit candidates in the 2018-19 academic year efforts to bring on nine new faculty members.

Examining Our Search Processes

In March 2019, the task force held a half-day examination of our hiring processes under the frame that every system is perfectly designed to result in the outcomes it yields. We looked at how searches are currently run in “the back of the envelope guide to the search process,” a deep dive on mindful vs. mindless recruiting, an introduction to systems thinking to address searches and a dive into a bright spot on campus taking inspiration from the UF College of the Arts. We wrapped the summit with a “how might we” exercise to examine redesigned search processes.

Putting the 2020 Plan Into Action

The task force is focused on ensuring that the diversity and inclusion plan adopted by the faculty as part of the 2020 Strategic Plan is being examined and executed. The task force has been meeting monthly in half-day sessions to review the plan, discuss updates and other issues and develop action plans to execute. Follow our tracking document »

What’s Next? On July 23, the IDE Committee will hold its monthly Coffee Break– a chance for faculty and staff to meet and discuss current diversity and inclusion initiatives around the College. This meeting is open and informal. Please join us!