The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment for the entire Brown community including learning and business operations in virtual spaces. All members of the community are encouraged to keep equity and inclusion at the forefront of their interactions. Below we share a list of ways you can help to ensure that we continue to uphold our values in regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Ensure that your materials are accessible for individuals who may be differently-abled. For video meetings with Zoom, you can record the meeting and enable captions that will appear when the video is downloaded. You can also utilize the chat box feature to share written notes, which can be saved and shared later.
  • Use language that exhibits respect and sensitivity to all constituents you are communicating with (students, staff, faculty). As one example, you can use generic greetings like Dear Students or Good Morning Staff, when addressing a class or large numbers of individuals in emails, announcements, and video conferences to avoid gender-specific language.
  • Be kind. Be flexible. Be adaptable. Remember that people may be operating with limited resources and could have additional stressors.

Tip sheets to download and share: 

  • Tips for Maintaining Equity and Inclusion in a Virtual Space (Download)
  • Tips for Maintaining Equity and Inclusion while teaching remotely (Download)
  • Tips for Maintaining Equity and Inclusion while learning remotely (Download)
  • Tips for Maintaining Equity and Inclusion while working remotely (Download
  • Tips for Maintaining Equity and Inclusion for DEI Practitioners (Download)

References and Resources:​