To all students and staff in the Department of Psychology

Following the message from the Vice Chancellor about the importance of an inclusive community within the University, we would like to take this opportunity to restate our deep and long-standing commitment to Equality and Diversity within the Department of Psychology, and our support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

We strive to provide an inclusive, friendly and supportive environment that allows all our staff and students to thrive and fulfil their potential. The more we can draw on everyone's talents, the more successful our department and our discipline will be. 

The Inclusiveness and Development Committee oversees our work towards Equality and Diversity in the Department. We recognize there is much more work to be done and this is highlighted by the striking under-representation of Black and Minority Ethnic staff in UK universities and in our Department. Our outreach work with schools with high numbers of students in under-represented groups aims to attract more diverse people to university in the future. We have also introduced a student survey to better understand the experiences of students from different backgrounds. 

We want to see much faster progress in this area, and we welcome any comments and suggestions about how we can further address inequalities. If you would like to make a suggestion, please contact the Chair of the Inclusiveness and Development Committee (beth.jefferies@york.ac.uk).

With many thanks,