About
Mission
MISSION
The Department of Integrative Biology emphasizes learning and teaching about interactions, across all scales, among humans and other diverse organisms in a range of environments. These interactions mediate the resilience of natural biotic systems, and enhance the sustainability of products and processes that are beneficial to ecosystems and consequently to human well-being. Thus, our mission is to create new knowledge and promote learning about ecosystem health and sustainability.
Dr. Mark Margres measuring an Angel Island Rattlesnake with collaborator Dr. Jason Strickland from the University of South Alabama.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Department of Integrative Biology engages in diversity practices which align with the University of South Florida Principles of Community.
Integrative Biology Inclusion and Belonging Mission Statement
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The Department of Integrative Biology is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community of students, staff, faculty, and alumni that: honors differences, provides equal opportunity, fosters mutual respect, challenges stereotyped preconceptions, and condemns all forms of discrimination and prejudice. We respect and appreciate the diversity of human experience across culture and circumstance, including those distinguished by education, first generation college attendance or non-traditional students, military experience, life or work experiences, age, intellectual, physical or unique abilities, socio-economic class, income, faith and non-faith perspectives, political ideology, primary language, national origin, family status, cognitive style, communication style, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. These core principles compel us to make every effort to recruit and retain (as students, staff, and faculty) members from all backgrounds in our discipline, in our university, and in our community; and to make every effort to integrate meaningfully the experiences, histories, and perspectives of these groups into our curricular and co-curricular programs and learning environments.
Description of the standing committee
7.2.7. Inclusion and Belonging in Integrative Biology (IBIB) addresses racism and fairness in access to science by underserved groups in the Department of Integrative Biology. IBIB shall, on an annual basis, assess the degree to which IB students, staff and faculty reflect the population of Florida and the US. Based on this information, IBIB shall make recommendations for mechanisms to improve representation/retention of underserved populations at all levels (graduate and undergraduate students, staff, faculty). IBIB shall also make recommendations for mechanisms to improve representation of underserved populations in our curricula. Further, IBIB shall identify training opportunities and other resources for faculty, students, and staff to address racism and access IBIB shall be composed of at least three members of the Regular Faculty (representing multiple USF campuses), and a staff representative appointed by the Department Chairperson, and could grow to include other populations as needed. The IBIB chair shall be appointed by the members of the committee. Members shall serve three-year terms. IBIB shall provide reports to the Department Chairperson and the faculty.