Suggested Diversity Interview Questions

Please describe your efforts to recruit, retain and advance faculty, staff and students of diverse
populations.

UW-SP is engaged in an effort to be a leader in Wisconsin’s movement toward increased
diversity and inclusiveness. Given the value placed on diversity, how have you integrated the
value of diversity into your various roles and responsibilities?

Given the value UW-SP places on diversity, how might you see yourself integrating this value
into your roles and responsibilities as a faculty member?

What is your experience working with students from diverse backgrounds, especially
multicultural students or students from economically distressed families?

Please provide an example that shows your skill in interacting with people who have different
values than you.

Describe an effort you undertook to ensure that diversity was accepted and facilitated in your
work area.

Describe a series of interactions you had in which you adapted your behavior around the other
people’s styles.

Diversity can bring with it a barrage of perspectives on various aspects of work. Describe
something you’ve done to optimize the benefits of having a diverse group of colleagues.

Describe a time when you were able to adapt to a person from a background or culture that was
different from yours.

How have you used your skills and experiences in (job title/discipline) to engage diverse
communities?

What experience do you have in working with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and
ethnicities?

What do you see as the most challenging aspect of increased diversity in this environment?

What initiatives have you undertaken in your previous positions that would reflect on your
commitment to diversity?

[Provide the mission statement with value on diversity] How has your experience and
background prepared you to be effective in this environment with this diversity value/initiative?

How have you handled a situation when a colleague was not accepting of others’ diversity?

Please explain what role you have or can play in advancing cultural diversity on campus.
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
In this position, how do you think you might be able to support the university’s philosophy
toward diversity?

How have you integrated multicultural issues as part of your professional development?

How have you participated in diversity events and organizations at other colleges and
universities?

What programs have you developed in the area of diversity?

Has diversity played a role in shaping your [teaching, advising, etc.] styles?

What do you see as the most challenging aspects of an increasingly diverse academic
community? What initiatives have you taken in your previous capacities to meet such
challenges?

What kinds of leadership efforts are needed to encourage a commitment to excellence through
diversity?

What experience do you have in working with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and
ethnicities?

Please share any particular challenges you have experienced in working with people from
diverse backgrounds. Successes?

What steps would you take to advance UW-SP ’s vision for achieving and sustaining diversity and
inclusive excellence across all areas of the campus?

Our institution is committed to fostering equity of women. What does “coeducation” mean to
you? What steps would you take to ensure that genuine coeducation takes place on our
campus?
FACULTY QUESTIONS

What has been your commitment to creating an environment of inclusion for persons of all
races, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations religions, etc. both collegially and in
your teaching?

What technology applications have you utilized in the classroom?

What ideas do you have about diversity in the classroom?

How would you go about being an advocate and resource for the use of technology in the
teaching and learning process?

What courses have you created or proposed in the past five years?
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