Liberal Studies recognizes global inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access (GIDBEA) as essential to education and the development of leadership in a globally interconnected world. These values inform LS as a collegial and respectful environment for students, faculty and staff—with particular attention to improving the student experience.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Our students are strongly involved in DEI events and initiatives, such as:
- LS-wide DEI Committee that facilitates conversations and information sharing; identifies DEI issues of importance to the LS community; makes recommendations to faculty committees and deans; and reports periodically to the LS community. AY 23-24 student members include: Seimoon Khan, Isabella Montano, Olivia Archard, and Alexandra Lugo.
- Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Retreat, an off-campus retreat that provides LS students the opportunity to explore leadership by developing self-awareness and creating meaningful connections with peers, grounded in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students engage in activities and dialogue that promote reflection and enhance leadership capacities.
- NYU Women Lead: A Global Leadership Accelerator celebrates and amplifies the prolific work of global women trailblazers—past and present—while centering intersectional gender equity and innovative leadership. LS partnered with the Office of Global Inclusion (OGI) to make our signature event, the Global Lecture Series, part of this initiative.
- Social impact programs to provide applied learning opportunities about DEI and social justice issues, including our signature service ambassadors seminar and placements, social impact grants and volunteer grants.
Understanding diversity and inclusion must be a community effort, and necessary to the development of our community, faculty and staff participate in professional development and other programs that address DEI topics and resources. As just a few examples:
- The Decolonizing the Liberal Arts Curriculum Symposium held at NYU London and partially funded by an inaugural Global Opportunity Grant. The symposium brought together NYU faculty, staff, and administrators from New York, London, and Abu Dhabi, alongside colleagues from British and international institutions, as well as local activists, in a collaborative effort to discover and develop new approaches to decolonizing scholarship and pedagogy in the Liberal Arts. Participants’ engagement with London's dynamic and multicultural neighborhoods and organizations served as a counterpoint to its place in history as the capital of empire.
- The Decolonizing the Liberal Arts Curriculum Series through which LS faculty members further explore the ideas and intersections that emerged during the London symposium. Conceived as the nucleus of a community of practice seeking to decolonize the curriculum, the series allows Liberal Studies faculty to more thoroughly engage with each other and with new voices to bring the ideas from the London symposium and beyond into transformative practice.
- RE-CLAIMING THE NARRATIVE, a free public symposium to rewrite history through Art, Culture & Ideas. The event was produced by NYU Accra in collaboration with the Writers Project of Ghana, the country’s foremost literary organization, and other local partners. Panel discussions, readings, craft workshops, and master classes will feature up to 30 internationally acclaimed African authors alongside NYU faculty and other local writers and scholars.
- Integrating the Global South in the Liberal Studies Curriculum, a symposium that gathered faculty to develop innovative approaches to decolonized, global, and interdisciplinary teaching. It featured a new juncture in global connectivity by showcasing the NYU Buenos Aires faculty’s knowledge and years of sustained research and engagement in local resources, as well as seminars and excursions led by local scholars and experts in the region’s complexities.
- OGI Inclusive Teaching Seminars, where LS faculty were introduced to key ideas in the field of inclusive teaching, such as creating an inclusive classroom climate, empowering students to learn collaboratively and across difference, as well as connecting concepts to students’ lived experiences.
- Development of a school-wide statement in support of DEI values recommended for course syllabi.
LS Student Council Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The LS Student Council Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a student committee responsible for collecting students' voices and representing them to the Council executive board, the LS-wide DEI committee, and the Dean, as well as advocating for the Liberal Studies student body regarding issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and access. For more information, email ls.studentcouncil@nyu.edu or ls.studentaffairs@nyu.edu.
Student Programs
In addition to the opportunities already mentioned, we encourage students to engage with diversity and inclusion through our many student affairs programs and clubs. Join one of the many LS student groups and organizations that promote the diversity of the community through their activities; or participate in our peer mentorship program for incoming first-generation and international students; attend a DEI discussion panel facilitated by other students; or visit us during new student student orientation at our welcome socials to connect with other students of color and LGBTQ+ students. We also help prepare students for the cultural adjustment process when studying away at an NYU global site.
Find Resources and Opportunities
NYU offers many services to help students navigate issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University. Find current events, support organizations, facts and figures, toolkits, and resources on the Global Inclusion and Diversity website, including Academic Resources. Find resources and support for Accessibility and Community for Students with Disabilities.
Report a Problem to the Bias Response Hotline
Have you experienced or witnessed bias, discrimination, harassmentharrassment, intolerance, exclusion, aggression, or microaggression against members of the University community? Share or report the incident through the NYU Bias Hotline: 212-998-2277, bias.response@nyu.edu, or online.
The Office of Global Programs is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Learn more about the unique site-specific opportunities and resources at NYU's global locations, such as the DEI Liaisons, DEI Councils, and Religious and Spiritual resources.
NYU BeTogether
Real transformation requires accountability with sustained learning, innovation, and multilevel action. The Office of Global Inclusion, and its partners, launched NYU BeTogether - a university-wide effort to center global inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access in everything that we do.
Anti-Racism Education, Programs, and Resources
OGI has listed selected programs, education, and resources focused on anti-racism that are available to the NYU community. Anti-racism work requires individuals to take responsibility for their own learning and avoid placing the responsibility for that education on already marginalized and disenfranchised groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Liberal Studies DEI Programming Grants
- Click here to apply for LS DEI grant funding Apply for up to $300 toward a program/event that can build community and incite meaningful conversations around diversity, inclusion and equity.