Accessibility To All

It is important that your organization is accessible to all interested students. UT Austin is a large community of diverse people, which is a tremendous benefit for registered student organizations. Groups that are intentional about being inclusive in their recruitment and retention of members have the advantage of being able to interact with students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, which strengthens the group experience for all students involved.

Student Activities & Leadership Development is committed to fostering diversity within the student organization community. When we speak of diversity, we are speaking not only about ethnic diversity, but also diversity of religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ability, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and other unique characteristics that make us who we are. As a leader in a registered student organization, it is important to consider how you can make your organization as inclusive as possible for all students. Consider questions such as:

Where do you hold your meetings?
Consider holding your meetings in locations where all students can feel comfortable, and not in establishments in which might make some students feel unsafe.

When do you hold your meetings?
If your organization always holds your meetings at night, you might be excluding commuters or students who have family responsibilities.

Are your meetings and activities accessible to students with disabilities?
Let members know that you are willing to change meeting sites or provide accommodations for persons with disabilities.

What do you talk about in your group? Is your group conversation inclusive, or do people use derogatory or racist language?
Educate yourself and your organization on how racist, sexist, or other forms of hateful language can be very damaging.

How do you advertise your organization and its activities?
If you only advertise in limited areas, it is likely that you are excluding some interested students from your organization. Think about how you can reach out by intentionally advertising in new ways and to new areas on campus. Remember that relying only on word-of-mouth advertising has a negative effect on diversity!

For more information, or to discuss issues of diversity, inclusiveness, and equality more in depth, please contact staff members in Student Activities & Leadership Development. For specific information about how you can accommodate students with disabilities in your organization, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSB 4.104) at 471-6259.