Sample Supplemental Diversity Questions for Student Affairs Search Committees

  1. Student Affairs has a goal of developing a diverse and multiculturally-competent staff. Please describe how your experience and background prepare you to be effective in this environment.
  2. What do you see as the most challenging aspect of a diverse working environment? What steps have you taken to meet this challenge in your experiences?
  3. Please tell us about any experiences you have had working with others with a different cultural background than your own.
  4. Please tell us about a time you identified that your work style needed tochange in order to meet a diversity need or challenge.
  5. How have you handled a situation when a colleague was disrespectful of others differences?
  6. What does it mean to have a commitment to social justice and how would you develop and apply your commitment at Portland State University?
  7. How is diversity valued by your current/former employer? What impact have you made on this value?
  8. Please describe what efforts you have made to foster multicultural competence and understanding in your personal or professional life.
  9. What have you done to further your knowledge about diversity? Have you included diversity in your professional development? How are you demonstrating what you have learned?
  10. Provide examples of leadership efforts you would champion to ensure a commitment to diversity and social justice at Portland State University.
  11. Please describe any strategies you have used to address diversity challenges. What were the positives and negatives of these strategies?
  12. Explain how diversity and multiculturalism have played roles in your career.
  13. What books, materials, and authors have you read on the subject of multicultural competence?
  14. How have you participated in diversity efforts at other places of employment?
  15. Provide us with an example of how you fostered a healthy climateand managed differences within your office staff.
  16. What programs have you developed in the area of diversity or multicultural competence?
  17. Please demonstrate how diversity played a role in shaping your (position i.e. teaching, counseling, programming, advising) style.
  18. Have you been involved in writing or shaping a diversity plan? If yes, please describe it. If no, what would you like to see in a diversity plan for Student Affairs (or this department)?
  19. As a higher education professional, please provide any examples of work you have been involved with in the area of diversity or multicultural competence in the broader community.
  20. What does diversity mean to you?