An Investigation of Veterinary College Websites in the US and Canada: Representations and Content of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Abstract

University websites are often a first point of contact for prospective students. Portrayals of diversity on the website can influence current and future students’ perceptions. Using content and statistical analysis, all 38 veterinary college websites in Canada and the US were systematically coded for representations of people in photos and content related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). In both Canada and the United States, people perceived as male or Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) were more likely to be portrayed without animals, and fewer photos with males depicted engagement in an activity compared with those depicting females. Compared with the self-identified data reported by US colleges to the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, BIPOC students were under-depicted by approximately 16.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.1%–21.7%) on some college websites and over-depicted on others by approximately 23.4% (95% CI = 15.4%–31.2%). A land acknowledgment or a link for a land acknowledgment was found on only six websites (16%). These results provide evidence and support that veterinary colleges should monitor their websites for depictions of people and content related to EDI, providing the opportunity to attract a diverse student audience.