Statement

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) celebrates and is committed to inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA). We appreciate that creating a diverse and accepting community involves deep work to educate ourselves and each other, and enact change. We strive to create an environment in which each individual is empowered and encouraged to respectfully express their personal and cultural uniqueness. This work is integral to who we aspire to become and is reliant upon our community - students, faculty, staff, and alumni - to uphold these values. All members are expected to be advocates for positive change, promote inclusive language, challenge discrimination, address bias, and apply critical analysis in the classroom and within our broader community. As a global educational institution, we recognize that our impact extends beyond our campuses to the industries that we serve, therefore we must hold ourselves accountable for embedding IDBEA principles and practices in all of our work around the world; reflecting not only who we are but also who we seek to become as a diverse, inclusive, and equitable school community. Our guiding principles serve as a foundation for furthering our work in this arena.
 

• To promote policies, practices, curricula, pedagogy, and research methods that encourage open dialogue, transparency, and/or inclusive collaboration 

• To actively seek to limit disparities within SPS communities and champion IDBEA within the spheres of our influence  

• To identify and continually re-evaluate opportunities and innovative practices that will sustain this work in perpetuity 

• To align our work with NYU and broader higher education efforts to advance IDBEA

• To regularly assess and measure our progress in IDBEA and make changes as necessary

• Inclusion* - The degree to which diversity is embedded, integrated, and involved.

• Diversity* - Diversity is demography and often representational. It is a complex interplay of social identities and issues.

• Belonging* - Operationalized when individuals are considered part of the constitutional foundation of an organization or institution. Belonging is achieved when individuals have the ability to critique and hold an institution responsible for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Equity* - Fairness and parity in distribution of resources based on historical and contemporary differentials that mitigate participation in society.

• Access* - Providing equal opportunity, participation, accommodations, and services for community members of all abilities

*Definitions from NYU's Office of Global Inclusion terminology toolkit