Statement of Guiding Principles on Diversity and Inclusion

Adopted on February 19, 2011 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Mary Washington. 

The University of Mary Washington strives to create a climate of acceptance and will promote the values of diversity and inclusiveness.  These values strengthen our community and are essential to our academic mission and institutional excellence.

The University of Mary Washington values diversity in all forms— including diversity of age, culture, disability, economic background, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, opinion, political affiliation, race, religious background, sexual orientation and veteran status.

The University of Mary Washington recognizes its responsibility to be a model of fairness and equal opportunity, providing intellectual and institutional leadership regarding diversity issues and initiatives.

As a public University in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the University of Mary Washington embraces its obligation to provide educational opportunities to broader communities found locally and nationally, and to then reflect the diversity of peoples, backgrounds, and experiences in the student body, faculty, administration and staff.

The University is committed to providing broad administrative, programmatic and academic support to achieve its institutional goals for diversity.

The University seeks to prepare students from all backgrounds and identities to live, work and thrive in a global society.

The University seeks to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment of mutual respect for students, faculty, staff and community, internally and externally, of all backgrounds and identities.

The University of Mary Washington recognizes that the adoption of this Statement is the responsibility of the entire University community.  To ensure the successful implementation of the statement, the University is committed to a system of responsibility, accountability, and recognition for all faculty, staff, and students that carries out the institutional values on diversity and inclusion and all related goals and objectives.