ABOUT THE DIVERSITY DATABASE
Our Goals
Georgia State is an institution that strives to be a nationally recognized model for inclusion. Consistent with the strategic plan and the efforts to strengthen our commitment to diversity, the university is conducting an inventory of diversity programs. Georgia State is committed to serving its community by building and cultivating campus community, diversity and equitable practices.
Defining Diversity
The definition of diversity used within the Diversity Database incorporates differences of race and ethnicity, sex, gender and gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, country of origin, language, disability, emotional health, socio-economic status, veteran status and affiliations that are based on cultural, political, religious or other identities.
Adapted from https://diversity.wisc.edu/dip/faqs/
Informational Areas
This diversity database was created to provide information related to three major areas related to diversity:
- Academic Initiatives
- Multicultural Programming
- Policy
Subcategories
Priority 1 Academic Initiatives |
Priority 2 Multicultural Programming |
Priority 3 Policy |
Research Experience for Undergraduates | Celebrations of Diverse Populations | Diversity Education Programming |
Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences | Formal/Informal Curricula | Leadership Training |
Pathway Programs | Speaker Series/Lectures/Colloquia | Recruitment & Hiring |
Visitation Programs | Student Organizations/Clubs | AA & EEO |
Enrichment Programs | ||
Professional Development Training/Workshops |
Database Survey Methodology

We are using the THRIVE INVENTORY TOOL (Byrd & Mason, 2020) to create profiles for each program/initiative. The THRIVE inventory is copyrighted by Curtis D. Byrd and Rihana S. Mason, 2020 (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5BDJN).
THRIVE is an acronym that stands for:
- T – Type of Program
- H – History of Program
- R –Research Preparation/Routines & Activities
- I – Inclusion and Identity
- V – Voice given to students, faculty and employees
- E – Expectation (what participants will receive and program outcomes).
Faculty and staff were asked to complete the survey during spring 2020 with further instruction as follows:
If your program supports several levels of the pipeline (i.e. pre-collegiate (K-12), collegiate, graduate, post-doctoral and/or faculty), please complete the inventory for each one of your programs. You will have the opportunity to upload a narrative about each program at the end of the inventory if there are details that are not captured by the inventory questions. Completion of the survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes. You will be able to upload any existing documents to support your responses as well.
More than 100 responses were received for incorporation into the new Georgia State database during the summer, with response data allowing for cross-referencing and searches by users.
Survey respondents were provided with the following definitions:
What is a sponsored award?
A sponsored award is an active funded proposal that is supported by the University Research Services & Administration (URSA)
What is considered a program or initiative?
A program or initiative is an organized system with staffing, a budget and a plan of academic or non-academic activities that are done in order to achieve a specific result (i.e., diversity) for students, faculty, or staff. Examples of program/initiatives(s) include: Upward Bound, The Latino Leadership Pipeline (LLP).
What is an event?
An event is a social, educational, or community occasion or activity that can be a one-time or reoccurring in occurrence. Examples of an event include: Queer De-Stress Fest, American Indian Heritage Month, Welcome Receptions for the Jewish and Hillel Community, Benjamin E. Mays Lecture.
What is a policy?
A policy is a regulation or law that dictates the governance of individuals, groups, programs, events, exhibits, activities, resources, research endeavors and departments. Examples of a policy include: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681 & its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R Part 106) and ADA Employee Accommodation Policy.
Contact Us
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Georgia State
Dr. Rihana S. Mason, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, College of Education & Human Development
Co-PI, Diversity Database