| Term |
Definition |
| belonging |
the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group; it is when an individual can bring their authentic self to work/campus; the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group. |
| climate |
how individuals and groups experience and perceive being members of the university community with an emphasis on feeling valued, a sense of belonging, being listened to, seeing themselves as physically and psychologically safe and being treated with dignity, equity and respect |
| cultural capital |
the skills, education, norms, and behaviors acquired by members of a social group that can give them economic and other advantages; the accumulation of cultural capital is one route to upward mobility |
| dead naming |
continuing to use the name that a transgender person was given at birth and no longer uses upon transitioning |
| dignity |
the concept that espouses the inherent value of every human person regardless of positional power and privilege |
| diversity |
the multiplicity and intersections of individuals’ identities derived from different backgrounds and with different characteristics (e.g. race, ethnicity, age, nationality, social and economic status, language, culture, education, skills, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religious, political and ideological perspectives, and physical and mental abilities, among others) |
| equity |
fair and just practices and policies that ensure all campus community members can thrive; being equitable means acknowledging and addressing strucual inequalities - historic and current - that advantage some and disadvatage others |
| equity gaps |
disparities in educational outcomes and student success metrics across race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, physical or mental abilities, and other demographic traits and intersectionalities |
| ethnicity |
ascribed identity bestowed on groups or categories defined by their distinctive cultural attributes such as language and religion |
| first-generation |
categorized simply as those who are the first in their family to attend college |
| gender |
a complex system of roles, expressions, identities, performances, and more that are given gendered meaning by a society and usually assigned to people based on the appearance of their sex characteristics at birth; how gender is embodied and defined varies from culture to culture and from person to person |
| gender nonconforming |
a broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category |
| HBCUs |
Historically Black Colleges and Universities |
| historically underrepresented populations |
identity for K-Staters who identify in one or multiple categories (Asian/Asian American, African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Indegenous, International, Multiracial, etc.) |
| HSIs |
Hispanic-Serving Institutions |
| identities |
the compilation of identifying labels anyone uses to represent themselves; also a system of identifying labels ascribed to social groups; gives a sense of belonging to the social world based on sameness to groups (sex, gender, ethnicity, race, nationality, ability, religion, spirituality, age, socio-economic status, language, political leanings, etc.) |
| inclusion |
the feeling of being valued, included, welcomed, safe, respected and meaningfully engaged in a community |
| international |
a person who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident |
| intersectionalities |
the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups. |
| LGBTQ+ |
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangender, Queer or Questioning, and all other members of the "Rainbow Community" |
| marginalized populations |
groups and communities that experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions |
| microaggression |
a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority) |
| multicultural |
consisting of or relating to people of many different nationalities and cultures |
| race |
any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry |
| representation |
is not just about having “different” people present; it comes down to making sure that different voices are heard, valued, and represented in decision-making processes |
| restorative justice |
a process involving the primary stakeholders in determining how best to repair the harm done by an offense |
| socioeconomic status |
indicates one’s access to collectively desired resources, be they material goods, money, power, friendship networks, healthcare, leisure time, or educational opportunities and access to such resources that enable individuals and/or groups to prosper in the social world |
| systemic racism |
policies and practices that exist throughout a whole society or organization, and that result in and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair or harmful treatment of others based on race |
| transformative change |
a philosophical, practical and strategic process to effect revolutionary change within an organization |
| transgender |
an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth; sexual orientation varies and is not dependent on gender identity |
| underserved populations |
identity for K-Staters who identify in one or multiple categories (race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, linguistic, military affiliation, socio-economic, veteran status, etc.) |
| unmet need |
the student's cost of attendance, minus their expected family contribution or family financial responsibility (if applicable), less any need-based aid received, such as gift aid, federal work-study or federal direct subsidized loans |