Equality, diversity and inclusion

View across Rome with sun low in the sky

The School of Classics is committed to creating an inclusive environment that supports equality and diversity. The School aims to achieve fair and equal representation for all, enabling all members of staff and students to contribute and reach their full potential. All staff operate under the University’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy.

The School is against any kind of discrimination and harassment on any basis, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, class, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. For more information on what constitutes bullying or harassment, please see the University’s advice and support web page. If you need to report or talk with someone about issues relating to equality and diversity, please get in touch with either of the School's equality diversity and inclusion co-chairs or the Head of School.

The School reviews its internal policies and consults with everyone working within the School to improve transparency and fairness at all stages of a career. If you have suggestions for the School's action plan, please contact one of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee members:

Emma Buckley (School of Classics EDI co-chair)
Jason König (School of Classics EDI co-chair)
Tom Biggs (staff rep.)
Kate Cook (staff rep.)
Rhyne King (staff rep.)
Sam Dixon (School Manager)
Joseph Edginton (UG rep.)
Ronnais Lloyd (PGT rep.)
Justin Lorenzo Biggi (PGR rep.)
Eleni Giamarello Bourmpouli (PGR rep.)
Xiyuan Meng (PGR rep.)
Sarah Prince (PGR rep.)

Athena SWAN started with the Athena Project and the Scientific Women’s Academic Network (SWAN), advancing representation of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) in higher education. It was expanded to include arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL) and now also covers professional services staff and transgender staff and students. Levels of the award are Bronze, Silver and Gold.‌

The School of Classics Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee contains representatives of different roles and careers as well as work-life balance experiences.

The School was awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze Award in May 2019.

Athena SWAN links
- A Brief Guide to Disability Terminology and Theory in Ancient World Studies (Society for Classical Studies).
- Asterion | Celebrating Neurodiversity in Classics: a resource for neurodiversity support in the UK.
- AWAWS (Australasian Women in Ancient World Studies).
- CripAntiquity, an advocacy organisation for disabled and neurodivergent people who work with ancient world studies in different ways.
- Decolonizing the Mythology Curriculum.
- Embedding equality and diversity in the curriculum: a classics practitioner’s guide (PDF).
- Inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability - GOV.UK.
- Network for Working-Class Classicists, and their report UK Class in Classics Report 2024.
- Teaching Disability in Classics.
- Women's Classical Committee (WCCUK), WCCUK on Facebook, and WCCUK on Twitter.
The Mediation Service is available to students, staff and members of the public, experiencing disagreement or conflict, who would prefer a less formal method of discussing University-related disagreements and grievances. The service is also available for groups or teams.

The Mediators are staff members from The University of St Andrews who have undertaken formal mediation training accredited by Scottish Mediation. Several Post Graduate students have also qualified in Mediation. Mediators act impartially and separately from University Schools and Services. They are solely interested in helping those engaged in the service reach a mutually acceptable solution.

Mediation is a confidential, informal, voluntary, self-determined and without prejudice process. If you or someone you know is involved in a disagreement that is in its early stages or has reached an impasse, please contact mediation@st-andrews.ac.uk for an informal chat about how the mediators can help.

Report and support

The Report and Support tool is available to report any concerns you have related to wellbeing, bullying, discrimination, abuse, assault or harassment of any sort. You can report anonymously or using your contact details. If you provide your contact details, a member of staff will be able to contact you to help provide support. This tool can be used by students, members of staff, members of the public or visitors to the University.

EDI News

Understanding and Improving Student Representation in the School of Classics

Lilliana Mitchell discusses the results of the project she and her peers undertook as part of the Summer Teams Enterprise Programme...

Date: Friday 11 October 2024

NWCC – St Andrews

Reise Watson recounts the path he took to studying Classics, and how he came to found the St Andrews branch of the Network for Working-Class Classicists (NWCC)...

Date: Friday 9 August 2024

A Reflection on the Senses and Disability Workshop

The event provided an inclusive opportunity for discussion of disability in antiquity. ...

Date: Tuesday 28 May 2024

Classics and our Homes

This Workshop provided a platform for conversations about multi- and interculturality in Classics from the perspectives of researchers themselves...

Date: Tuesday 28 March 2024

Voices Unheard Symposium

Looking at diversity in academia, and providing opportunities for students to present their research on underrepresented topics ...

Date: Tuesday 8 March 2024