Diversity and Inclusion
One of Brandeis University's founding values is the belief that diverse backgrounds and ideas are crucial to academic excellence. The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to an antiracist approach to research and education. On this page, you will find the school's antiracism plans, related resources for students, staff and faculty, and recent updates about the School's efforts to increase diversity and create a more equitable, inclusive space for investigation and learning.
Antiracism Plans
In December, 2021, all Academic and Administrative departments at Brandeis University delivered antiracism plans to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, including all academic divisions, departments and programs within the School of Arts and Sciences. These efforts seek to apply a rigorous and accountability-driven analysis of how an institution's customs, practices and norms can have an adverse impact on persons because of their race, even though those impacts may be unintended, unplanned and often unseen.
- School of Arts and Sciences (Schoolwide Plan)
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Undergraduate Admissions Office
University Resources
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is committed to working collaboratively with our campus community to assess and support its strengths and needs in an effort to build high-quality programming that evokes social change. Visit its website to report an incident of harassment or discrimination.
The Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC) provides resources, positive visibility, an affirming space and advocacy for lesbian, gay, same gender loving, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual students, staff and faculty at Brandeis. Through education, community building and programming for the entire university community, the GSC encourages everyone to participate in creating and maintaining an inclusive environment.
The University Ombuds staff are confidential, independent, impartial and informal resources for all of the Brandeis Community including undergrad and grad students, faculty, staff, alumni and anyone engaged with Brandeis. Ombuds staff support the dignity, well-being and safety of each visitor by providing a safe space to talk off the record about difficult situations. Staff meet with you personally to actively listen to your concerns and discuss options for conflict resolution.
Student Resources
The Intercultural Center (ICC) provides a venue where students can learn and demonstrate social responsibility and diverse leadership skills. The ICC serves as an umbrella organization for 16 student organizations that host events focused on issues of culture, ethnicity and social justice.
Our community believes deeply in student leadership on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, and is home to a number of student organizations focused on a wide range of issues related to culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and social justice.
Faculty and Staff Resources
The School of Arts and Sciences has made a special commitment to provide arts and sciences faculty with a range of mentoring resources. The centerpiece of our mentoring initiative is the Faculty Mentoring Program (FMP). The FMP provides pretenure faculty with dedicated mentors and access to other professional development resources that will foster their success and well-being here at Brandeis.
Under the auspices of the Faculty Mentoring Program, the Faculty of Color Collective provides a range of resources and opportunities for professional development and community building to the growing number of tenure-track and long-term contract faculty of color at Brandeis across the School of Arts and Sciences, Heller, and IBS. Ulka Anjaria, professor of English, serves as the Collective's coordinator. She, along with Sarah Mayorga, associate professor of sociology, serve as mentors to the Collective. Working in an advisory capacity, the Collective's mentors will be available to share their insights and advice about navigating career trajectories at Brandeis and the academy at large.
The Staff-Faculty Accessibility at Brandeis group includes staff and faculty who identify as disabled along with peers who support them.
Focused on accessibility-related issues that arise at work and the workplace, the Staff-Faculty Accessibility Group may help develop resources related to accessibility and disability-at-work, organize disability-related events, and engage in other activities as members determine, while also providing support and advocacy where needed.
The Brandeis Faculty and Staff Pride Alliance (BFSPA) is open to all members of the faculty and staff who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community or wish to be part of the peer network that supports the LGBTQIA+ community on campus. We are a faculty and staff association dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied members at Brandeis in their professional and community roles.