Biology with Purpose

The Ursinus College Biology Department is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Ursinus Biology Department seeks to cultivate a community in which students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities can thrive. We believe every person is worthy of respect and deserves a learning environment that is safe, supportive, and welcoming. We are mindful of the historical contributions that biologists have made in perpetuating discrimination and exclusion, and we know more work is needed to remove barriers to success for underrepresented groups. Cultivating a diverse scientific community requires sustained effort, and it is our responsibility to promote the success of every student through best practices in teaching, research, and mentorship.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is ongoing. Biology faculty engage in training, self-reflection, and open discussion to enhance our ability to:

  • use active learning strategies that narrow the achievement gap for under-prepared students
  • offer a variety of assignments to make student evaluation more equitable
  • seek federal grants to provide scholarships and support for Pell-eligible students
  • incorporate recitation programs into our foundation courses to help all students succeed
  • engage students in early research experiences to increase retention in biology
  • feature scientist spotlights in our courses to highlight a diverse array of successful researchers
  • build ethics discussions into courses to consider the question, “How should we live together?”
  • use the college’s early alert system to reach students of concern and offer intensive support
  • offer courses for majors and non-majors that explore biological diversity in its many forms
  • go beyond content to offer practical training in career preparedness and leadership skills

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