Department of Music EDI Committee

The Department of Music EDI Committee exists to further Durham University’s commitment to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion within our department.

These principles assert that

• everyone, irrespective of race or ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, ability/disability, religious belief, geographic or socioeconomic background, must be treated fairly
• diversity and difference enrich our community
• negative behaviours and attitudes – such as prejudice, discrimination and harassment on account of protected characteristics or their intersection – are absolutely unacceptable
• as a department, we are committed to supporting people to challenge negative behaviours where they occur

The EDI Committee asserts, on behalf of the Department of Music, a standpoint that is explicitly anti-racist, feminist, gender inclusive, anti-disablist, anti-ageist and socially inclusive.

The Committee holds strategic oversight of EDI within the department:

• advocating for EDI within the department
• promoting awareness of university-wide EDI initiatives
• leading departmental EDI development processes

The committee does not replicate or replace existing centralised university EDI structures, such as mechanisms for harassment reporting, but provides a departmental point of contact for all EDI-related issues.

Constitution

The Committee reports to the Board of Studies. It is chaired by a member of the Board of Studies, appointed by the Head of Department.

It consists of academic and professional support staff, and students at all levels (at least one representative from undergraduate levels 1, 2 and 3, and postgraduate level).