Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our Diversity Drives Our Discovery

The Department of Biological Sciences is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion among its faculty, students, and staff. We believe that our intellectual environment and departmental culture is enriched by incorporating perspectives that derive from a range of ethnicities, races, genders, sexual orientations, political and religious beliefs, abilities, and life experiences. To support this vision, we stand against discrimination and harassment, and we strive to create an environment where all individuals are respected and appreciated for their unique identities.

We welcome your feedback on how to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment in the department through our anonymous suggestion box.

(Note: the form requires you to login with a VUNetID, but this information is not recorded).

Members of the department can access the summary of the Fall 2023 Departmental DEI Climate Survey here.  (A VUNetID is required).

Our department actively works to create, support, and participate in initiatives that reflect our values.

• Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) at Vanderbilt – The NIH-funded MARC Scholars Program provides funding and mentorship for juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds to help prepare them for research careers in the biomedical sciences.
• STEM Transition and Retention (START) Advisory Groups – Freshman and sophomores interested in STEM majors are invited to join small groups led by graduate student and postdoctoral mentors to learn about research opportunities, discuss career paths in the STEM disciplines, and develop a sense of community at Vanderbilt.
• Learning Assistants (LA) Program – We work with other STEM departments across A&S in the LA program to innovate the undergraduate curriculum and make it more equitable, welcoming, and engaging. Learning assistants are undergraduates trained in pedagogy who work as peer facilitators in classes they have already taken, thereby serving as a source of academic and social support to currently enrolled students.
• HHMI Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) and Driving Change Learning Communities – Members of the department have received a grant to participate in the Inclusive Excellence 3 initiative through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. IE3 promotes institutional and curricular change to create a sense of belonging for all students, particularly those historically excluded from the STEM disciplines.  IE3 at Vanderbilt supports faculty learning communities to adopt more inclusive and productive mindsets about students, and it provides funding clusters of faculty seeking to enhance their course design and pedagogical choices.
• Inclusivity in the BioSciences Association (IBA) – IBA includes faculty, students, and staff from the Biological Sciences department as well as other groups. The goal of the association is to organize and participate in initiatives that promote inclusivity and education outreach.

We hold all members of our community accountable to our values. If you are experiencing discrimination, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct:

• If you are a Vanderbilt student, or the incident involves a Vanderbilt student, The Office of Student Accountability, Community Standards, & Academic Integrity can help you report the incident.
• Vanderbilt’s Equal Opportunity and Access Office can help you report an incident of discrimination and/or harassment.
• The Student Access Office provides academic and professional accommodations for undergraduate and graduate students.
• For accessibility issues related to on-campus facilities, you can file a service request with Vanderbilt Maintenance and Operations through the ReADY app.
• Contact the Office of Title IX to report an incident of sexual misconduct or discrimination. You can also contact Project Safe for emergency services and support related to gender and sexual harassment, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.