Here are some steps that will facilitate better relationships and mutual respect:

1. Be proactive in helping to create a more inclusive environment.
2. Remember that individuals may withhold valuable information and commitment when they do not feel included or valued.
3. Understand yourself and be mindful of your own reactions to messages you receive from others.
4. Ask open-ended questions to verify the accuracy of your assumptions. Remember, whether messages are intentional or unintentional, they convey value or devaluation. These messages let people know how we really feel about them.

So where does this discussion about diversity leave us? Why is it important for you, as an engineering student and eventually, as an engineering professional, to be concerned about diversity? The answer is that you live, go to school, and will someday work in a world that is increasingly diverse.

For engineering, diversity has particular significance: The nation finds itself under increasing urgency to locate and nurture the next generation of engineering, scientific and technological talent. Even though engineering remains among the fastest-growing professions, more and more American students, including underrepresented groups, are increasingly not choosing engineering as a career. To quote Dr. George Campbell, president of Cooper Union, the renowned engineering institution in New York City, "An engineering workforce that utilizes the full potential of every segment of our society is essential - not only to our nation's economic growth, but also to our political goals, social objectives and responsibilities for global leadership."

For further discussion of this topic, please see the PPC module Workplace Diversity.