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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity

The Department of Physics and Astronomy strives to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for its faculty, staff, and students.

This page describes the principles we seek to advance, offers resources for department members, and describes activities carried out in the Department. To contact the Department about any questions or concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusivity, please email us at physicsDEI@mail.wvu.edu.

WVU Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Principles

The following are definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion embraced by the Department of Physics and Astronomy:

Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. While diversity is often used in reference to race, ethnicity, and gender, we embrace a broader definition of diversity that also includes age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. Our definition also includes diversity of thought: ideas, perspectives, and values. We also recognize that individuals affiliate with multiple identities.

Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness within the procedures and processes of institutions or systems, as well as in their distribution of resources. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society.

Inclusion is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people. It’s important to note that while an inclusive group is by definition diverse, a diverse group isn’t always inclusive. Increasingly, recognition of unconscious or ‘implicit bias’ helps organizations to be deliberate about addressing issues of inclusivity.

IndependentSector.org

The Department seeks to carry out its educational, research, and service missions in support of the WVU land-grant mission in a manner consistent with the goals of fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in all aspects of department life.

How to Address DEI/Title IX Concerns & Issues

The following sections contain information about how to address concerns with diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Department. If you have any questions, please contact physicsDEI@mail.wvu.edu and/or the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity.

What do I need to know if I have a DEI/Title IX concern or issue?

  • Most importantly, help is available to you. After reading this section, please see the next section to see various options for obtaining help.
  • If you would like to talk to someone about your concern or issue, note that everyone in the Department is a mandatory reporter. This means that if anyone sees or comes to know something that is a violation of the university's Title IX policy, that person is required to file a report with the WVU Title IX Office.
  • In other words, if your issues is about a Title IX violation and you talk to someone about it, they are required to file a report. You do have options:
    • There are people to talk to outside of the Department who are not mandatory reporters (see next section).
    • You can talk to someone in the Department knowing they have to file a report. Once the report has been filed, you can choose to pursue an investigation or not. You are not required to pursue a Title IX investigation just because a report is filed.
  • For more information, visit the WVU Office of Equity Assurance (Title IX Office) and a list of WVU policies on equity.

Who do I talk to, or what can I do, if I have a DEI/Title IX concern or issue?

  • If your concern or issue is about a violation of Title IX policies, you can File a Title IX Report.
  • You can talk to people in the Department (note, everyone in the department is a mandatory reporter - see previous section for more information). Examples include:
    • A trusted friend or colleague
    • An advisor, supervisor, instructor, or teaching assistant
    • The chair or associate chair of the Department
    • Anyone on the DEI committee
  • You can also talk to people outside of the Department. Examples include:

Test Accommodations

Test accommodation is available to students through the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS). OAS is located in Room B20 of Stewart Hall. Services they can provide include:

  • Getting a separate room for exams (to free you from distractions)
  • Periodic breaks during exams
  • Extra time for exams and/or assignments (usually time and a half)
  • An earlier exam time (in the morning instead of in the afternoon, pending the availability of proctors)
To obtain these accommodations, you must have proper documentation for a disability (anxiety, panic attacks, etc.) from a professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, family doctor, et cetera). To apply for accommodations, go to the OAS website, complete the online application, submit the proper documentation, and meet with OAS to discuss your accommodations.

Related WVU Programs

Department Activities

The following activities within the Department are carried out in support of diversity, equity, and inclusivity:
  • The WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy is an  American Physical Society Bridge Program Member Institution .
  • The WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy hosts a “Women in Physics” Listserv.
  • The WVU Physics Education Research (PER) faculty are members of the  NSF INCLUDES Alliance First 2 Network and conduct research on diversity in STEM. Learn more about research conducted by  Prof. John Stewart.
  • From 2019-2022, the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy was a member of the  APS-IDEA Network, which provided training for department members in the development and implementation of DEI policies and practices.
  • Hosts  planetarium shows for Black History Month and WVU’s Diversity Week centered around the book/movie  Hidden Figures. (This true story of African American scientists making crucial contributions to NASA missions has an interesting connection to WVU – Katherine Johnson helped break the color barrier as a student at WVU, and Dorothy Vaughn went to elementary school at a building across from WVU!). 
  • There is an alternate workload, or departmental leave, policy for students in the  Graduate Student Handbook.
  • The WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy has a standing “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity” committee. Responsibilities and activities include:
  1. Collaborates with WVU and community partners to offer trainings such as Safe Zone.
  2. Sends monthly emails to the department about DEI and liaises with departmental committees.
  3. Organizes annual departmental Title IX trainings.
  4. Regularly carries out department climate surveys.

Department Climate Survey

The WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is charged with carrying out departmental climate surveys. The purpose of the survey is to obtain longitudinal data to assess the culture in the department and obtain information to enact effective policies to improve DEI in the department. The first survey was done in Spring of 2019. Reports from the climate surveys are linked here: