The collective commitment of AIS council and staff is to broaden the scope of participation within AIS and foster a more inclusive environment across all dimensions, including region, ethnicity, race, and gender. We are dedicated to integrating considerations of inclusivity and diversity into every facet of AIS operations, encompassing conferences, journals, awards, and committee structures. 

As the association’s first elected VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), my primary objective is to instill an inclusive mindset throughout the entire framework and policies of AIS. I actively encourage input from colleagues representing underrepresented regions so we might address your unique concerns and ensure your perspectives are fully integrated into our initiatives.

Sincerely,

Manju Ahuja, AIS VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Professor of Information Systems, University of Louisville (United States)
Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of New South Wales (Australia)
m.ahuja@unsw.edu.au 

AIS Diversity & Inclusion Statement

In June 2018, AIS formally adopted a diversity and inclusion statement that identifies guiding values for AIS efforts. This statement is part of ongoing efforts to make the AIS more inclusive, which already include geographically rotating conference locations for ICIS and AMCIS, supporting local regional and chapter conferences, and offering different membership rates based on the UN human development index.

The open exchange of ideas and the freedom of thought and expression are central to the aims and goals of the AIS community. These require an environment that recognizes the inherent worth of every person and a group that fosters dignity, understanding, mutual respect, and that embraces diversity. The AIS community is committed to enabling and promoting all AIS members’ full participation in the activities, groups, and decision-making of the AIS without distinction and/or discrimination on the basis of individual or group differences.

Diversity & Inclusion within AIS Conferences

Conferences play an important role in disseminating knowledge and promoting communication and interactions among AIS members. The AIS community is concerned about discriminatory legislation, biased and/or inequitable practices in various locations. In support of providing inclusive and non-discriminatory experiences at AIS conferences and events, the AIS will work with conference organizers to identify and address location-related issues to the best of its ability and to communicate unresolved issues to AIS members.

Diversity means all the individual or group differences that characterize current and future membership of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) community. These include, but are not limited to, differences in career or employment status, academic rank, geographic location, age, biological sex, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, language, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, skin color, and socioeconomic status. 

Inclusion means that all AIS members can be involved and participate in any and all AIS activities and groups, depending on their interests and wishes. All AIS members will have their voices heard and valued and have fair and reasonable opportunities to influence AIS policies and decision-making.

DEI Resources for AIS Members

AIS leadership is committed to enabling and promoting full participation of all AIS members’ in its activities, groups, and decision-making without discrimination on the basis of individual or group differences.

• The AIS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Standing Committee, established in 2018 as the Standing Committee on Diversity & Inclusion, has been reimagined in 2024 as an active catalyst for organizational transformation towards dignity, understanding, mutual respect, and inclusiveness within our global association community.
  
  The committee serves as a pivotal force dedicated to driving tangible change, prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and belongingness initiatives, and championing an equitable experience for all AIS Members. Working closely with the AIS VP of DEI, the committee works to ensure inclusiveness and diversity is considered in all aspects of AIS operations including conferences, journals, awards, programs and services, and committee representation. Additionally, the committee will serve as a resource for program organizers, volunteer leadership, and the membership at large ensuring the association continues to broaden participation. Members of the committee may be found on the AIS Committees and Task Forces page.
  
  
• Partnership with NSF Grant ImPACT IT
  AIS has embarked on a 3-year partnership grant through the National Science Foundation entitled Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Information Technology (ImPACT IT)¹. The grant explores the gender imbalance in tenure-track IT faculty being promoted from associate to full professor and is looking at institutional barriers to equity for women and under-represented groups being promoted to full. Learn more about the partnership.
  
  
• Springboard your Mid-Career Series
  The NSF GRANT-AIS IMPACT IT ADVANCE team has developed a new approach to helping mid-career faculty—especially women and traditionally under-represented groups across the globe—springboard their next phase of career advancement through Catalysts, full professor/highest rank in a regional system, acting as facilitators for meetups designed to build connections among mid-career faculty looking at the unique challenges of their local/regional academic contexts. This series of six facilitated workshops has been designed to build connections among often-isolated individuals and to help participants advance their careers amidst the unique challenges of their local/regional academic contexts.  Each full professor/highest rank in your regional system called a “Catalyst,” can recruit as many mid-career faculty (4-6 in a cohort is best) to participate. They will coordinate/facilitate six one-hour online discussions held roughly monthly over the academic year (6 workshops total). Watch this short video or sign up now for access to the resources.
  
  
• AIS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
  Every member has agreed to abide by the AIS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct which requires all of us to adhere to the values of equality, tolerance, respect for others, and justice in all that we do. We want you to feel comfortable reaching out to the association if you ever think there’s a breach of our ethics and conduct policies. To make reporting easier and empower you to contribute to a safe and professional environment, AIS offers an online incident reporting system managed by NAVEX Global’s EthicsPoint. Learn about the reporting and resolution processes.
  
  
• AIS McLean Membership Scholarship
  The AIS Ephraim McLean Membership Scholarship program fund supports AIS memberships for Doctoral Students at universities in countries classified with Medium or Low UN Human Development Index ratings and faculty at universities in countries classified with Low UN Human Development Index ratings. Learn more about the scholarship.
  

DEI Resources for AIS Community Leaders

• Reference: Improving Diversity and Inclusion in your AIS Community - In 2018, a Task Force on Social Inclusion released a report for AIS SIGs, Chapters, and Colleges with 20 actionable ways to enhance diversity and inclusion in their communities. Download the report.
  
  
• Annual reporting by SIGs, Chapters, and Colleges
  All AIS Communities (SIGs, Chapters and Colleges) are prompted to share the diversity and inclusion actions they take each year during the required annual reporting process.

AIS Membership Survey Demographics and Related Resources

AIS is dedicated to gathering and using membership data to help us understand global membership trends, set benchmarks, and engage positively with our members. We prioritize the dignity, privacy, and security of our members, and we carefully consider the impact of data collection to ensure we respect all legal and ethical standards. The AIS Policy Manual includes the current AIS Privacy Policy and related document retention information.

• Biennial Membership Survey Demographics (2019, 2021, 2023)*
• AIS Regional Alignment Map

*Current AIS membership required to access.

1. Loiacono, E., Iyer, L., Long-Lingo, E., Carter, M., and Randolph, A. “ADVANCE Partnership: ImPACT IT: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Information Technology,” National Science Foundation Grant Number: 2102119.