Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Liberal Studies recognizes diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging 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.

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 20-21 student members include: Martha Chen, Emade Ekukole-Sone, Luc Giner, Felicia Nara.
• Black Lives in Global Contexts, a series that takes as its premise that all aspects of Black lives matter, and features LS faculty, students, alumni, and guests in discussion about how migration, erasure, racial capitalism, cultural appropriation, and other global manifestations impact the lives of people of African descent the world over.
• LS Stonewall 50, a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in Greenwich Village in June of 1969, marking the start of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. This series highlighted a diversity of cultural practices, historical realities, and contemporary issues through an interdisciplinary and global framework
• LS NYUWomXn100, a year-long series of programming, events, and creative production to honor and celebrate the lives, pursuits, innovations, and achievements of womxn of transgender, non-binary, and cisgender experiences - including those who have been historically overlooked across our global communities. While 2020 marked 100 years since the U.S. ratified the 19th amendment, not all women gained access to their vote
• 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 & volunteer grants.

Understanding diversity and inclusion must be a community effort, and necessary to the development of our community, faculty and staff participate in trainings and other programs that address DEI topics and resources. As just a few examples:

• AMC Brave Conversations, a continuing conversations series around anti-racism efforts, organized by the Administrative Management Council. All NYU employees and students are invited—including union colleagues, and those at global sites and campuses. Associate Dean Jon White was a featured speaker in the White Males in Solidarity Panel Discussion.
• What Makes a Global Classroom? A series that gathers the LS community to discuss how we envision and create global classrooms by who we are, how we engage each other, what we study, and how we study it. 
• Integrating the Global South in the Liberal Studies Curriculum Symposium, 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.
• Office of Global Inclusion (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 Subcommittee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The LS Student Council Subcommittee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a student committee of the Liberal Studies Student Council 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. For more information, email LSSC.DEI.StudentAdvisoryBoard@nyu.edu. 

MRULE Roundtable Discussions (RTDs)

In partnership with Michigan State University’s Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience (MRULE) program, make friends in a fun community-building space dedicated to analyzing and understanding the major social issues of our time. Join your peers at NYU and MSU and share about things like race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, nationality, language…all the dimensions that make us who we are and determine the opportunities and freedoms afforded to us or not.

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 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 in LS through 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, and resources on the Global Inclusion and Diversity website, including Academic Resources.

Report a Problem to the Bias Response Hotline

Have you experienced or witnessed bias, discrimination, harrassment, 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.

NYU BeTogether

The Office of Global Inclusion, and its partners, are launching NYU BeTogether - a new initiative that will build upon the lessons learned from initiatives such as Being@NYU to strengthen our community.

Being@NYU

Results of the university-wide Being@NYU assessment provide information on the campus climate and issues of inclusion and diversity at NYU.

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).