Staff Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee

Our Mission is to honor our college's commitment to upholding the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through ongoing action, intentionally cultivating a sense of belonging for all identities and intersections of these identities.

Through open and civil dialogue, work together with the university diversity council, university diversity officers, the Office of Human Resources, and other stakeholders to promote and inform Cornell's diversity initiatives and goals within the College of Arts and Sciences, with a specific focus on staff but in collaboration wherever possible with other community initiatives. 

Promote the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all College recruitment, retention, and programming activities with the goal of parity for all College employees.

Why is it important?

• Improve engagement where people are involved, developed and empowered.
• Foster an inclusive environment where individuals feel they belong.
• Counteract unconscious bias environment.
• Create a diverse environment where we have the opportunity to learn to embrace differences.
• Increase rates of employee retention.
• Improve institutional reputation.
• Enrich the professional experience of staff.
• Better opportunities for creativity, innovation and problem-solving.

This committee acknowledges current challenges on university campuses, including our own, due to debates on free speech, questions about diversity initiatives, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia. We know that staff are impacted. The university has compiled a list of resources for staff seeking further information.