Enhancing diversity at Carnegie Mellon is one of the top priorities of the university. It has been included as a major focus in the university’s strategic plan, and President Jared L. Cohon has taken on the leadership role for the implementation of this initiative. He issued his first diversity statement in 1999 to explain to our university community why diversity is important to the institution and its continued vitality and growth, and has continued to emphasize the importance of this issue.
Cohon also formed the Diversity Advisory Council (DAC), a multi-constituent body that he chairs, to not only heighten awareness and encourage civil debate on the issues that surround diversity, but also to implement activities that support mutual respect and community success. The DAC is pledged to define the problems and challenges of diversity, to craft strategies for making progress and to monitor that progress into the future.
• The DAC issued a position paper assessing the problem of diversity at Carnegie Mellon and defined a diversity vision statement.
• Several working groups have studied the issues and produced reports with specific recommendations.
• In 2002, we began the process of implementing recommendations in our departments and schools, as each unit develops and implements its customized diversity plan. That implementation is an ongoing, evolving process.
