Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Carnegie Mellon University is committed to having a diverse, equitable and inclusive teaching and learning culture. Carnegie Mellon Architecture promotes the study of architecture and the built environment that addresses the needs of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and economic status. We aim to be inclusive of all, with intentional mindfulness of recognizing the voices and work of our Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and Underrepresented Minoritized (URM) students, faculty and staff.
We encourage our students, faculty and staff to participate in active dialogue on race and inclusion through local, regional and national organizations that aim to expand diversity in the architectural profession. We aim to build upon our school’s legacy in the area of social interest design across all three of our educational programs: computational design, sustainable design and community-engaged design.
The school is developing pathways through our undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs for students of all identities, including recruitment, mentoring and placement in industry and academia. We are committed to a design pedagogy that embraces civil rights, non-discrimination, anti-racism and intersectionality to expand our curriculum and include non-western traditions and issues of social and environmental justice.
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Underrepresented: People who have historically not had representation because of barriers to inclusion. These might include factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, culture, age and/or livelihood, etc.
Diversity: At Carnegie Mellon Architecture, diversity is defined broadly to mean the presence of difference within our contained environments.
Equity: Equity recognizes that when people come together in groups, power is unequally distributed. Some individuals have advantages while others have disadvantages. Equity, as a process, is the very intentional approach organizations take to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and that those starting from disadvantage are given the chance to grow, contribute, learn and develop.
Inclusion: Inclusion supports individuals with different identities to feel they belong within the group because they are valued, relied upon, welcomed and empowered.
Allyship: Allyship means showing up to act in solidarity with disempowered peoples without centering yourself or worldview. We need people to do this even if they cannot fully understand what it’s like to be disadvantaged because of race or ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, class, religion or other markers of identity.
Carnegie Mellon Architecture Community: Our community includes faculty, staff, students, researchers and alumni.
Social Justice: Social justice can be defined as the intentional work, policy and practice to promote systemic equality, equity, respect and the assurance of rights within and between social groups and communities.
Source: How to Talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by Alida Miranda-Wolff