UC San Diego University Communications Guiding Principles for Inclusive Excellence

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

UC San Diego is committed to achieving inclusive excellence. We take bold actions to attract and support a diverse faculty, staff and student body with the goal of reflecting California’s demographics. Further, we recognize that true excellence is achieved when we feel respected for our perspective, background and heritage.

In alignment with this commitment, our internal and external communications efforts are designed to help sustain and advance an inclusive, diverse community. By embracing and affirming the unique cultures, identities and life experiences of each student, faculty and staff member through our work, UC San Diego is better able to demonstrate its institutional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

To this effect, University Communications maintains and practices the below Guiding Principles. The department is also guided by and committed to the UC San Diego Principles of Community.

Guiding Principles

A communications professional adheres to guiding principles of equity, diversity and inclusion that demonstrate respect for colleagues, for staff, for faculty, for students, and for all audiences.

Ensure content facilitates a sense of belonging for all individuals.
Maintain content that informs, educates and supports all audiences to foster inclusive attitudes.
Develop strategic communications plans with equity, diversity and inclusion as a priority.
Cultivate a diverse and inclusive community within University Communications that encourages respectful, open dialogue and challenges itself to take bold actions that will ensure communications are inclusive, accessible and representative of the communities we want to engage.
Be mindful when selecting words and phrases that relate to gender, race, culture, belief systems, etc.
Clearly label descriptive captions on all images, illustrations and graphics.
Ensure images and visuals reflect diversity across categories (age, sex, ability, gender, etc.). If the written content (e.g. an announcement, initiative, program) is not diverse or inclusive in nature, determine why that is and consider reevaluating that content.
When producing content, acknowledge historical and implicit biases based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion and political beliefs.
Cultivate and maintain a work environment that is supportive of equality, diversity and inclusivity.
Within all content, affirm values of accuracy, honesty, fairness, ethical behavior and sensitivity.
Remain accountable for actively seeking and consuming resources needed to help promote and cultivate equity, diversity and inclusion.
Ensure and safeguard that the responsibility for creating a more diverse and inclusive culture is equitably shared among all members of University Communications.

Resource List

More resources are available on the UC San Diego Office for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity website.