George Mason University promotes a living and learning environment for outstanding growth and productivity among its students, faculty and staff. Through its curriculum, programs, policies, procedures, services and resources, Mason strives to maintain a quality environment for work, study and personal growth.
An emphasis upon diversity and inclusion throughout the campus community is essential to achieve these goals. Diversity is broadly defined to include such characteristics as, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Diversity also entails different viewpoints, philosophies, and perspectives. Attention to these aspects of diversity will help promote a culture of inclusion and belonging, and an environment where diverse opinions, backgrounds and practices have the opportunity to be voiced, heard and respected.
The reflection of Mason’s commitment to diversity and inclusion goes beyond policies and procedures to focus on behavior at the individual, group and organizational level. The implementation of this commitment to diversity and inclusion is found in all settings, including individual work units and groups, student organizations and groups, and classroom settings; it is also found with the delivery of services and activities, including, but not limited to, curriculum, teaching, events, advising, research, service, and community outreach.
Acknowledging that the attainment of diversity and inclusion are
dynamic and continuous processes, and that the larger societal
setting has an evolving socio-cultural understanding of diversity
and inclusion, Mason seeks to continuously improve its
environment. To this end, the University promotes continuous
monitoring and self-assessment regarding diversity. The aim is to
incorporate diversity and inclusion within the philosophies and
actions of the individual, group and organization, and to make
improvements as needed.
Taken from https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/purpose-and-mission/mason-diversity-statement/
As a
member of the George Mason University community, the Volgenau
School of Engineering plays an integral role in building an
educational environment that is committed to anti-racism and
inclusive excellence. An anti-racist approach to higher
education acknowledges the ways that individual,
interpersonal, institutional, and structural manifestations of
racism against Black individuals and other people of color
contribute to inequality and injustice in our classrooms, on
our campuses, and in our communities, and it strives to
provide our community members with resources to interrupt
cycles of racism so as to cultivate a more equitable,
inclusive, and just environment for all of our students,
staff, faculty, alumni, and friends, regardless of racial
background.
To be
anti-racist means:
To
make constant, conscious decisions to interrupt racism and
cultivate equity, inclusion, and justice for people of all
racial backgrounds, and in particular those from Black
communities and other communities of color, who are most
likely to bear the direct and indirect costs of systems of
white supremacy;
We
believe that the work of anti-racism starts with each
individual, and that in cultivating an anti-racist approach to
research, scholarship, and practice, our students will build a
skillset rooted in principles of equity, inclusion, and
justice that they will carry with them throughout their lives.
For more
information on how to continuously cultivate the practice of
anti-racism, see this guide from the National Museum of
African American History and Culture on how to be anti-racist:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/being-antiracist
[This antiracism statement was prepared by Dr. Charles Chavis, Assistant Professor in the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution]