Diversity in Penn State Research
As the Research and Graduate School administrators, faculty, staff, and students plan for the future, diversity efforts are integral to our strategies. Our administrative unit, as outlined on the first page, is comprised of many diverse areas: administrative and service offices for Penn State’s graduate students, research administrative and service offices, interdisciplinary research institutes and consortia, technology transfer offices, and defense-related research units. These offices interact with many segments of the University community.
The Graduate School directors and staff oversee the enrollment processes for graduate students who encompass all of the various dimensions of diversity. The staff is committed to promoting cultural competency within their units and to providing services in a way that meets the myriad of needs presented by such a diverse population. Several of the units also implement creative programs and strive to identify new programs that expose students to a variety of cultural and international perspectives and that meet their academic and professional development needs. A primary recognition of the graduate school staff is that Penn State students must be groomed for effective participation in a global society.
Our service units provide programs and workshops that facilitate and support the integration of minority faculty, staff, and students into our community, culture, and work environment.
Our interdisciplinary research and technology transfer units actively promote new areas of research that focus on issues impacting underrepresented populations in our society. These initiatives range from diverse research projects on racial disparity to well-being, and language development in non-white children, to healthcare delivery for individuals with disabilities.
Technology transfer units provide strong support to minority- and women-owned business enterprises making them competitive within our community and the Commonwealth.
Our Defense-Related Research Unit, comprised of the Applied Research Laboratory and the Electro-Optics Center; is primarily funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, is one of Penn State's largest research entities and is a major player in Penn State’s research program. Diversity is an integral part of the laboratory's mission.
Despite the large and diverse administrative unit, we are all joined by the Research and the Graduate School Definition of Diversity:
“Diversity is an open, safe, and welcoming climate at Penn State and in the surrounding community, which encourages the presence of an increased number of faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented groups. The underrepresented groups we recognize include those from various racial/ethnic backgrounds, ages, ancestries, veteran statuses, colors, countries and cultures, genders (including those who describe themselves as trans-gendered), disabilities, religions, and sexual orientations. Diversity also includes interacting with companies, their owners, and clients of various origins, and promoting heterogeneity in research programs.”
The Human Resources Office for the Vice President for Research and The Graduate School, a service that supports and enhances the University's vision to become one of the nation's preeminent public universities, is responsible for integrating administrative divisions into the framework of the institution, providing expert advice and counsel to colleges, departments, faculty, and staff, and strengthening positive efforts to attract and retain quality faculty, staff, and students.