The University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), Division of Nursing's (DON) position on diversity stems from its mission. Faculty and staff are committed to promoting a learning environment that reflects a global view of society. The faculty philosophy statements also support and reflect a holistic view of health, person, nursing, and environment. Furthermore, the DON's commitment to diversity is congruent with the American Association of the Colleges of Nursing Statement on Diversity and Equal Opportunity (1997), which states: "Diversity includes consideration of socioeconomic class, gender, age, religious belief, sexual orientation, and physical disabilities, as well as race and ethnicity. Diversity and equality of opportunity recognize that individuals learn from exposure to and interaction with others who have backgrounds and characteristics different from their own." (p. 1).

To this end, the UMFK DON will:

• Emphasize a multicultural focus in the curriculum, thereby enabling students to provide care for persons in diverse settings;
• Provide a supportive learning environment in which students, staff, and faculty from the entire spectrum of society are full participants in the educational process;
• Develop creative and innovative educational methodologies that serve a diverse student population;
• Foster and facilitate the development of professional nurses prepared to meet the health care needs of a multicultural society;
• Create an educational community and a professional practice environment that incorporate the diverse perspectives of the many constituencies whom they serve;
• Require an admissions and employment process that fully encompasses the principles of equal opportunity;
• Recruit and retain student applicants from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to, those from socially or economically disadvantaged communities, diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, rural communities and men interested in nursing; and
• Recruit and retain faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.