The initial starting point is the development of an aligned mission that advances the benefits of diversity and inclusion as an important means of accomplishing core academic, clinical, research and community engagement goals.

Research shows that a diverse faculty: 

• Improves student learning outcomes,
• Are more likely to integrate a variety of pedagogy and multicultural scholarship into the classroom,
• Have more frequent contact with their students,
• Show greater interest in expanding their research and scholarship to incorporate issues related to historically underrepresented marginalized groups,
• Utilize methods that foster higher order thinking skills and
• Serve as important role models for all students.

Continuing changes to demographics in the United States and Canada will mean increases in students who are immigrants, visible minorities and historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. As a result, students will expect to see and engage with faculty who are diverse and look like them.

CODA standards related to a humanistic environment require dental schools and dental therapy programs to focus on cultural competency and faculty diversity.

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• Stewart AJ and Valian V. An Inclusive Academy: Achieving Diversity and Excellence. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2018.
• Hassouneh D. Faculty of color in the health professions: Stories of survival and success. Hanover, NH: Dartmouth College Press, 2018.
• Milem JF. Increasing Diversity Benefits: How Campus Climate and Teaching Methods Affect Student Outcomes. In: Orfield G. Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Publishing Group, 2001.
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