Diversity, Excellence, and Inclusion

Arts and Sciences is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment across our scholarly, pedagogical, and administrative practices. We believe – as affirmed by our Committee on Equity and Diversity – that a diverse scholarly community working in equitable conditions increases intellectual richness, vibrancy, and innovation, and cultivates and models excellence and inclusion for our students and those outside the University.

We fully support Columbia’s commitment to educational diversity, and we work closely with the Office of the Provost on initiatives to recruit, advance, and retain a diverse faculty and research community.

Within the Arts and Sciences, the Committee on Equity and Diversity serves as the central faculty governance body that supports programming, policies, and procedures that promote inclusive and equitable work environments for faculty within their home departments and more broadly across the University. 

The Office for Faculty Development and Diversity further guides efforts to increase faculty diversity and foster an inclusive climate within the Arts and Sciences by recruiting, advancing, and retaining a more diverse tenured and tenure-track faculty.  Among its priorities, the Office works to increase the representation of faculty from diverse backgrounds, support the advancement of faculty, and enable a more welcoming, supportive, and inclusive climate.

Diversity Across the Arts and Sciences

Each school within the Arts & Sciences maintains a robust DEI effort that engages areas such as recruitment, mentoring and advising, financial aid and student support, enhanced research opportunities in STEM, and other areas.  Below are links to individual programs and activities.

Additional Resources

Office of University Life: Promoting Social Justice and Combatting Bias