The School of Communication (SOC) is a campus leader in advancing inclusive excellence at American University, setting a standard for embedding inclusion throughout teaching, scholarship, recruiting, and professional development.

Snapshot:

• SOC launched the university’s first Inclusive Excellence Committee in 2018.
• A deep commitment to inclusive practices informs all aspects of the School, from curriculum to hiring.
• SOC offers $20,000 annually in grants to support research on racial representation in communication fields.
• New courses were created to address topics related to identity, power, and media representation.
• Professor Sherri Williams named 2021 NABJ Educator of the Year.
• SOC co-founded the Politico Journalism Institute with POLITICO and the Maynard Institute, helping diversify the future of political journalism.

Executive Summary: SOC is deeply committed to inclusive excellence, embracing a broad understanding of inclusion across race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political perspective, and more. The School fosters an environment that encourages open dialogue about critical issues in communication and society.

During reaccreditation, SOC was recognized for its robust efforts to recruit a diverse graduate student body and was praised for taking inclusion seriously at all levels.

American University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) partners with SOC and other academic units to promote education, outreach, and advocacy, especially supporting LGBTQ+, multicultural, first-generation, and women’s communities. SOC works in alignment with these broader university efforts to cultivate an environment of belonging and opportunity.

In 2008-09, SOC created a School-wide Inclusive Excellence Committee and appointed faculty and staff leaders to coordinate initiatives focused on fostering an inclusive community. In 2020, AU further strengthened these efforts by creating the Office of Equity and Title IX to unify and expand initiatives addressing structural barriers and promoting equitable access across campus.

SOC's curricular innovation reflects its commitment to Inclusive Excellence. Courses such as Race, Ethnic and Community Reporting; Identity, Power and Misrepresentation; Multicultural Strategic Communication Campaigns; and Reporting on Immigration center inclusive storytelling and empower students to understand and address complex societal issues.

Student-led initiatives further amplify diverse voices:

• The Blackprint: A student-run publication elevating marginalized perspectives.
• Visible: A platform amplifying LGBTQ+ experiences, advised by SOC faculty.
• Chapters of NABJ and NAHJ: Building community and professional pathways for students from underrepresented groups.

Through initiatives like the RACE Matters program, SOC supports faculty, staff, and student projects that advance racial equity and justice within communication fields.

Strategic Focus on Inclusive Excellence: SOC’s Inclusive Excellence efforts are embedded in daily operations and strategic planning, including:

• Conducting biannual climate surveys for faculty and staff.
• Hosting workshops and trainings on creating inclusive classrooms and workplaces.
• Expanding diverse hiring practices through intentional outreach and inclusive review processes.
• Offering professional development opportunities around leadership and inclusivity.
• Providing direct support and mentorship to student organizations representing historically underserved communities.

SOC’s Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan, aligned with AU’s university-wide plan, outlines actionable priorities.

Highlights include:

• Expanding the composition and leadership of the Inclusive Excellence Committee.
• Centralizing reporting systems for bias and discrimination concerns.
• Funding Inclusive Excellence initiatives through internal grants.
• Establishing the SOC Inclusive Excellence Award, recognizing outstanding contributions from faculty and staff.

Campus and Professional Impact: SOC’s commitment to inclusive excellence is reflected beyond the classroom:

• SOC faculty lead initiatives at the Center for Media and Social Impact, Investigative Reporting Workshop, and Center for Environmental Filmmaking, focusing on social justice, environmental equity, and public interest journalism.
• SOC students and faculty participate in university-wide committees such as the President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion and the IDEA Committee.

Student Body and Faculty: SOC’s undergraduate and graduate student populations continue to grow more diverse:

• Approximately 35% of SOC undergraduate students identify as people of color.
• Nearly 50% of SOC graduate students identify as people of color.
• SOC’s majority-women faculty is complemented by increasing faculty diversity across disciplines.

SOC remains firmly committed to advancing inclusive excellence — not as a standalone initiative, but as an integral part of its academic, professional, and community life.