Creating an Equitable and Inclusive Research Space

As of 2021, 38% of the undergraduate population and 27% of the graduate population at UCCS identified themselves as a racial or ethnic minority. Not only this, but 22.7% of undergraduate and 35% of graduate student application respondents claimed first-generation status, meaning that their parent(s) or guardian(s) did not earn a 4-year baccalaureate degree.

As researchers, it is our responsibility to ensure that not only are the research practices that we employ equitable, but that the environments in which we conduct this research are also equitable and inclusive. For many students at UCCS, this may be their first introduction into research and laboratory spaces and it is up to us to set them up for success. By keeping in mind that everyone's path at UCCS is unique, we can set intentions, guidelines, and expectations for our students that foster an equitable and inclusive environment.

Below you will find resources and templates for creating "lab manuals" and welcome letters to introduce new students and research associates to your group!

And if you're interested in learning more about why equity and inclusion is so important in academia, read more on the website for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and check out these articles here:

1. Grindstaff, K., & Mascarenhas, M. (2019). “No One Wants to Believe It”: Manifestations of White Privilege in a STEM-Focused College. Multicultural Perspectives, 21(2), 102-111.
2. Gutiérrez, R. (2017). Political conocimiento for teaching mathematics. Building support for scholarly practices in mathematics methods, 11.