Our Commitment to EDI
Following the publication of our Code of Ethics in 2021, the Board of Directors of the RP Group has made it a focus to more prominently center equity, diversity, and inclusion within our work. While equity has been a core value and part of our work for quite some time, much like each of you and our college communities, our understanding of what it means to be equitable has evolved over time. We now offer additional support and insights into how we believe the RP Group and IRPE field must change to help students succeed.
Just as our Mission, Vision, and Core Values guide our approach to research, professional development, and representation, we believe we need to affirmatively and publicly articulate our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The RP Group’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The RP Group recognizes it is not enough to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion; we must proactively work to oppose racial inequity and lead social justice within the educational system. The RP Group must capitalize on its unique position as both a provider of research and professional development, and as a representative body for IRPE professionals to advance equity and drive systemic change.
Here are some of the actions that we have already taken to help us keep our commitment:
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We have an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee that is creating tools for our board, staff, consultants, and the IRPE field to use;
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We are undergoing significant board and staff development around equity, diversity, and inclusion; and
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We will continue changing how we offer professional development opportunities to ensure we are meeting our commitment.
Over time, we will be releasing a series of resources based on our new equity framework, which includes a digital library, contextualized glossary of terms, and an assessment tool to help you evaluate your work in a manner that advances equity.
Within our system, racial identity is frequently the most salient indicator of advantage and oppression. As such, in order to advance equity broadly, our work must begin with race and how it intersects or interacts with other characteristics. As IRPE professionals, we have a privilege and responsibility to go beyond identifying gaps in students’ outcomes to use the data to inform actions that eliminate these gaps.
Finally, we would like to recognize that we are all in different places in our personal journeys. The RP Group as an organization and as a group of individuals is no different. Our positions and documents will continue to evolve as we grow personally and professionally as an organization and individuals.