DEIA Committee
In June 2021, Columbia SPS formed its inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. Comprised of more than 20 administrative staff members and faculty, the committee will work with the Chief Diversity Officer to identify and recommend policies to institutionalize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in SPS’s hiring, curriculum development, learning and development programs, support networks, and other practices.
Mission
At the School of Professional Studies (SPS) the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are essential to our commitment to provide diverse, innovative programs that enable our students to succeed in their educational and professional development. DEIA undergirds the school’s dedication to enabling access to education in order to narrow the opportunity gap and create a more equitable society. These values are embedded in the work of our faculty, staff, the curricula of our programs, our community engagement, and our commitment to foster a respectful, welcoming environment for our students, staff, faculty and alumni.
Purpose
The purpose of the DEIA Committee is to help guide and support the school’s vision of a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible community in which every voice is heard, community members have a sense of belonging and connection with one another and to the school, and everyone feels empowered. The DEIA Committee is charged with assisting in the development of a supportive environment where students, staff, faculty, alumni and affiliates feel safe, seen, heard and included, and as such, can learn, grow, and achieve success without barriers.
Subcommittees
A subcommittee will be formed for each of the committee’s three main focus areas: students, staff, and faculty. The committee can form additional subcommittees as deemed necessary.
Questions
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions, or you want to get involved with diversity initiatives at SPS, send us an email at spsdiversity [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu.
