The Faculty of English is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity.
Our work is mindful of the Equality Act 2010, which designates nine protected characteristics: age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. Our work on equality, diversity, and inclusivity is not limited to these areas; in particular we note the issue of economic inequality.
The Faculty’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Steering Committee reports to the Faculty Board of English and meets termly. It aims to achieve within the Faculty a culture that promotes and values equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of Faculty activity, including teaching, learning, examination, research, recruitment, and administration.
In 2019, the Faculty received a Bronze Athena SWAN gender equality accreditation. You can read more about Athena SWAN and the Faculty’s gender equality work here.
Here is a list of the current members of the EDI Steering Committee. If you are a member of the Faculty seeking advice or support, you are encouraged to contact our EDI Officer, or any other member of the Committee if you prefer.
Dr Rebecca Anne Barr, EDI Officer, rab43@cam.ac.uk, 01223 (3)67327
Ms Ruweyda Sheik-Ali, Murray Edwards, Faculty student EDI representative, rs2125@cam.ac.uk
For further information about University of Cambridge initiatives, including support, networks, and training, see the University’s Equality and Diversity pages: www.equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/.
See below for links to online training and other resources.
Online Training (Cambridge users only)
Equality and Diversity Essentials
Understanding Unconscious or Implicit Bias
Lecture on ‘Implicit Bias and Stereotype Threat’ by Dr Juliet Foster (available only to Faculty administrative staff, academic staff, and graduate students – if you have trouble accessing this please contact computing@english.cam.ac.uk)
Other Links
University Equality and Diversity
Cambridge University Students’ Union
University Staff Networks (including LBGT+, Women Staff, Parents and Carers)
Breaking the Silence – preventing harassment and sexual misconduct
Human Resources policies and procedures (including maternity, paternity, adoption, parental leave, shared parental leave, returning carer’s scheme, compassionate leave)
Senior Academic Promotions CV Scheme
Harvard Project Implicit (online tests to find out your implicit associations about race, gender, sexual orientation, and other topics)
Collaborating with Men (ground-breaking research conducted by Murray Edwards College to establish how men and women can work together to transform workplace culture barriers to women’s progress into leadership positions. )
