Our Commitment to Diversity

To: Faculty, Staff and Students of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry RE: Our Commitment to Diversity From: Chair Robert Continetti on behalf of the Faculty and Staff The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry reaffirms its commitment to ensuring an educational and research environment that fosters racial and cultural diversity in all of our activities. Creative scientific research depends on diversity in the educational, social, cultural and racial backgrounds of researchers. The faculty and staff of our Department condemn the recent acts of racial stereotyping and intimidation that have occurred within our community, and we reaffirm that members of all racial and cultural communities are welcome within our Department. We believe in and pledge our continued efforts to create an environment free of prejudice and intimidation that fosters our mission of education, research and discovery. The Departmental faculty and staff support the widespread calls for action (for example, some of the specific points raised by the Academic Senate's Committee for Diversity and Equity) to improve the campus climate in the short and long term, and demand that the promise of higher education as a public good be realized. In that regard, we prioritize the recruitment of students, staff and faculty from underrepresented minorities to further diversify our Department. As a student in our Department, if you have any questions or comments about recent events, or comments about personal experiences that you wish to share, please feel free to speak with staff members in our Office of Student Affairs, York Hall 4010, or with any faculty member.