School of Humanities

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The feet of three students walking over a rainbow crossing on University Park campus

The work of the School's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team aims to encourage staff and students to recognise their full potential, feel valued, and lead successful and fulfilled lives.

 

Who are we?

"We're in the process of setting up the committee for this year and determining our priorities. We're really keen to hear from staff/students in the School with any thoughts you have about how we can make Humanities a more welcoming and inclusive place; please fill in our anonymous form (responses will be available on the EDI Sharepoint page)
or email jonathan.robson@nottingham.ac.uk or 
sasha.garwood1@nottingham.ac.uk with your ideas."

Katie Monk, Sasha Garwood and Jon Robson

School of Humanities EDI Committee

We are responsible for implementing EDI initiatives across the School, within the context of University and Faculty EDI policies, collaborating with other groups in the School and further afield. These include:

  • working towards an inclusive environment for staff and students which is not only free from discrimination, but also celebrates and values diversity
  • hosting training events for staff
  • contributing to important events like Black History Month, LGBT+ History Month, and Disability History Month
  • supporting the decolonisation and diversification of curricula
  • addressing degree-awarding gaps
  • monitoring equality impact assessments (EIAs)

The Committee meets termly and has several affiliated working groups.

Faculty of Arts EDI Board

The Faculty of Arts EDI Board (FEDIB) meets three times a year. It is chaired by the Faculty PVC Professor Jeremy Gregory. School EDI Directors report to FEDIB, and this board reports to the Faculty Executive Board. The Faculty’s Director of EDI is Laura Todd (CLAS) and Mosina Susiwala is Faculty EDI Coordinator.

PVC for EDI

Professor Katherine Linehan is PVC for EDI. Read Katherine's blog.

 

What are we doing?

Recent Work 

  • School Student EDI Project Group. Coordinators Robin Melvin (they/them) and Tobi Soyannwo (he/him)

  • PGR Inclusivity Ambassador Project. Lead: Chloe O’Dowd (she/her)
  •  Trans Pasts, Trans Presents
  •  Brew Monday
  • Film screenings

Ongoing Work 

  • School EDI Committee
  • Decolonising Curricula
  • We are currently trying to get funding to develop student contributions to EDI strategy.
  • EDI drop-ins (tbc)
  • Developing new reporting and feedback systems
  • Training (for example, around anti-racism, neurodiversity)
  • New parents' group (Faculty of Arts)
  • Biennial staff culture survey (Athena Swan)
  •  Focus groups responding to Staff Culture Survey, Disability survey, etc
 
The School of Humanities fully supports the Black Lives Matter movement in challenging all forms of racism. We are aware that structural racism is a powerful force in the UK, including within universities. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the structural inequalities faced by many minoritised groups – especially Black, Asian and disabled people. Universities have a key role in combatting racism and all forms of discrimination: our School shares that responsibility, especially as we recognise that our predominantly white staff and student bodies are far from being representative of Britain’s racially diverse society. We acknowledge that there is still much to do to address this imbalance.
Humanities statement on Black Lives Matter
The School of Humanities is proud to be an international school with staff and students from all over the world and with partner schools in our campuses in China and Malaysia. All members of our community have the right to learn, research and work in a hate-free environment and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure our community feel safe.
Humanities statement on Hate Crime

Find out more 

Athena Swan 

Athena Swan Bronze logo against a white background. Text reads Athena Swan bronze award gender charter.

The School of Humanities has been granted an Athena Swan bronze award. The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.

Find out more about the Athena Swan charter.

 

School of Humanities

University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

Contact details