Diversity, Equity and Belonging

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion goes hand in hand with our commitment to equity and social justice. In the College of Arts and Sciences, we value diversity in all forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, language, culture, religion, mental and physical ability, age, socio-economic status, parenting status, citizenship status, and immigration status. Openness, dignity, intellectual curiosity, and inclusiveness are crucial to learning. They are the root of true knowledge and lie at the heart of our academic mission.

The success of our efforts to recruit, retain and support peoples historically under-represented in U.S. universities demand that we rectify the inequalities long perpetuated in higher education. We know that our commitment to diversity must be a commitment to accountability and to action. Through informed investments we are working to ensure that our institutional culture, policies and infrastructure foster an inclusive environment. We know we cannot survive as a public institution without these investments. Our goal is to ensure the full participation and wellbeing of all members of the CAS community. Now more than ever, we must support each other.

We gratefully acknowledge the enormous contribution that diversity makes to our university. We believe that the ability to solve complex human problems depends on including and honoring the perspectives of diverse persons. Homogenous academic settings breed complacency and ignorance. Diversity expands our scholarly horizons and sparks intellectual growth. Diversity exposes us to new ideas and intellectual traditions and enhances our ability to think in complex ways that are critical to our collective future.

In the College, we are committed to creating and sustaining a learning environment that truly honors the contributions that diversity makes to our strength. We understand that supporting diversity and inclusion in CAS not only benefits our university, but benefits all of the peoples and communities our institution was created to serve.

Dear Faculty, staff and students, 

The College of Arts and Sciences stands with the victims, families, and communities in Atlanta and with the broader Asian and Asian American communities now coming to grips with the recent mass shooting that has taken the lives of eight people, including six Asian women. As we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities affected, we are compelled to speak out and act against the racism, misogyny, and xenophobia that motivated this latest atrocity. As we learn more of this tragedy, our concerns turn immediately to our students, staff, faculty and to all members of Asian communities on our campus.
 
Our ability to act in solidarity and to provide more effective support requires that we recognize a number of fundamental factors that have shaped the current circumstances. First, we must recognize that this was not an isolated event, but part of a long and ongoing history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the Unites States. Second, we must understand how this violence is rooted at the dangerous intersections of racism, sexism, colonialism, and xenophobia, rendering all peoples of Asian descent and their communities as targeted and vulnerable. And, third, we acknowledge that since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen a spike in violence against Asians and Asian Americans across the country.

In condemning this violence, it is the responsibility of everyone in the College to work together to make our community - and nation – more inclusive. We must intensify our efforts to normalize the understanding that everyone belongs. These painful times serve as a stark reminder that equitable and safe environments are not accessible to all. We must continue to strive to make this a reality through our actions and investments. Our commitments to equity and belonging must include commitments to ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being.