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Our Plan for Inclusive Excellence
President Sylvia M. Burwell announces American University's Plan for Inclusive Excellence and discusses the opportunities and challenges the university faces with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Charting Progress
10/1/2016 Initiative to Diversify Faculty & Staff Hiring
- A plan for diversifying and retaining diverse faculty—Target of Opportunity Program (TOP)—is developed by Mary Clark, Dean of Academic Affairs and Senior Vice Provost and Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Dean of the School of Education
- Human Resources examines every phase of staff hiring process with the goal of increasing diversity and inclusion
- HR leaders meet with 60 staff members of color to identify changes the university could make to improve racial climate and establish a new staff and faculty people of color affinity group
1/1/2017 Climate Survey Revised
- PCDI provides input on the Undergraduate Campus Climate Survey to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
- Revisions to survey are made to gather more comprehensive data from current undergraduate students regarding diversity and inclusion on campus
5/10/2017 Antiracist Research & Policy Center Announced
- Ibram X. Kendi, best-selling author and award-winning historian, is announced as the founding director of AU's new Antiracist Research and Policy Center
- The Center will bring together teams of faculty and student researchers to conduct cutting-edge, intersectional, and interdisciplinary research of racial inequality and discrimination of a national and international scope
- AU believes the Center will serve as a global leader for anti-racist research and policymaking
8/30/17 New African American History Major Announced
- A new African-American and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) major launches within the College of Arts and Sciences
- The program examines African American history and culture in the U.S. in the context of contemporary and historical African cultures, theories of racial ideology and race politics, and the distinctive artistic, literary, and cultural practices of African people worldwide
- The program is offered by the Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Collaborative, a vibrant and inclusive community that explores diverse voices, histories, and experiences through socially-engaged scholarship
Fall 2017 Diversity & Inclusion Curriculum Update
- American University Experience (AUx), a set of two required transition courses, is rolled out to all first-year students in academic year 2018-2019
- he first pilot of AUx1, which launched last year, had a retention rate of 98%
- University-wide discussions on implementing additional courses related to diversity and inclusion into the AU Core begin
Reporting Bias
Learn more about how we are establishing an infrastructure to support, cultivate, and foster greater diversity and inclusion, as well as how to report a bias incident to the university.
Diversity on campus
AU aligns with the work of the Association of American Colleges & Universities in defining diversity and inclusion.
AU's population 1
- Student of color
- 34 %
- International Students
- 11 %
- Faculty of color
- 19 %
- International faculty
- 3 %
Diversity is defined as individual differences (e.g., personality, learning styles, and life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, and ability as well as cultural, political, religious, or other affiliations).
Inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity in the curriculum, co-curriculum, and communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical) with which individuals might connect.
Welcome HOME!
The Hub for Organizing, Multiculturalism, and Equity
The Hub for Organizing, Multiculturalism and Equity (HOME) is intended to give everyone in the AU community a place on campus where they can be themselves and find acceptance. "HOME is open to everyone," SG President Yamillet Payano explains. "That way we can come together and socialize to learn and grow among those in our community here at American University." Students have been using the space regularly since it opened. The multicultural space can be accessed with an AU ID upon request.
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Initiatives Across Campus
Across our campus, community members are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture.
- School & College Initiatives
- Center for Diversity & Inclusion
- Department Initiatives
Student Activities
There are more than 200 student-led organizations that help students create connections and find support systems on campus.
Alumni Association
AU offers a diverse range of affinity groups and networks that celebrate identity, industry, leisure, student activities, and student experience.
President’s Council on Diversity & Inclusion(PCDI)
Message from Caleen S. Jennings
We look forward to hearing from you!
(PCDI) advises the president and reviews and makes recommendations regarding diversity and inclusion-related strategic plan goals, as well as AU policy and procedures.
We hope that this page is engaging and informative. It represents many hours of discussion, debate and work, yet it is neither complete nor perfect. If it does not represent you, or if it lacks important information, please let us know at DICouncil@american.edu.
News
Announcement
Six Pilot Projects Selected for Inclusive Excellence Mini-Grants
Each project will tackle the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at AU.
Student Life
RiSE: Where We Are and Where We're Going
Leaders of Reinventing the Student Experience (RiSE) shared progress and future goals related to the ambitious project.
Announcement
AU Student, Founder of ‘The Muslim Project,’ Receives Prestigious Social Change Fellowship
American University Class of 2019 student Ammarah Rehman has been named a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow