Our Values
The Department of Communication Arts strives to be a supportive and empowering place in which to learn and work. We recognize that there are historically marginalized communities at the university, and that we have the responsibility to work against it. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive climate for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors, regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual identity, gender identity, ability, age, parental status, caste, or any other aspect of identity. Our department endeavors to:
- Increase access and opportunities for students who are:
- coming from a low-income family
- a first-generation student
- the first in their family seeking to graduate from a four-year college in the U.S.
- coming from an underserved urban, rural, or farming community
- attending a school with a limited college preparatory curriculum
- attending a district in an area with high poverty concentration
- or have other family circumstances that have impacted educational opportunities
- Eliminate achievement gaps based on these differences in background
- Recruit, support, and retain an inclusive community of faculty, staff, and students
- Prepare all of our students, staff, and faculty to thrive personally and professionally in a world that is diverse, global, and interconnected.
Our Mission
Comprised of faculty representatives from each of the four graduate areas of study and a staff representative, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee works to develop concrete strategies to improve our department’s climate while also serving as a point of contact for those with relevant questions or concerns. Specifically, this committee seeks to:
- Gather and communicate information about issues related to inclusion on a regular basis
- Provide education and training for faculty, TAs, and instructional staff about issues of inclusion in the curriculum and in the classroom
- Promote efforts to recruit, support, and retain a diverse student body, and
- Serve as a resource and liaison for those who have experienced incidents of bias or harassment.