Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

The higher education environment is being changed by the shifting dynamics of its students and its workforce. Students and employees are becoming more diverse on a broad range of dimensions including gender, sex, sexual orientation, language, age, ability status, national origin, religion, socio-economic status, as well as race, ethnicity, and heritage. Those who manage programs and services, as well as those who help to develop the talents of students and the workforce, need to be prepared to address the environmental factors that influence performance and affect overall wellbeing.
As a Council of forty associations that engage every aspect of higher education operations, CHEMA leaders have consciously chosen to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the membership of our higher education Associations. The shared interests of the collective body prompts CHEMA Association leaders to commit to fostering inclusive environments and to provide members guidance on how to achieve these aims. CHEMA seeks to make its collective presence felt within higher education by strengthening members' roles in establishing diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning communities. CHEMA has developed recommended principles for Associations to help guide and support efforts to address the challenges, seize opportunities, and realize the benefits to society of such communities.
NIRSA was founded on principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. The NIRSA Board adopted the CHEMA recommended principles and will appoint a Commission to explore ways to enhance NIRSA and NIRSA member efforts in this area.