CFA DEI branding pattern
The School

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We celebrate our diverse population and are committed to growing and sustaining a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our commitment in the School of Design is to nurture, support, and enable all students, staff, and faculty to develop to their full potential. We value collective strength and difference, while recognizing that the School and the field of design have more work to do to embrace other ways of knowing, doing, and being. 

We recognize the force that design and designers can be in the world, and believe that it is important that we cultivate a culture of inclusive collaboration to grapple with the complex problems facing society today. Understanding and welcoming our differences helps position designers and design to address imbalances, injustices, and inequity in the world.

We commit to ongoing efforts to recruit and retain students, staff, and faculty from all communities, cultures, and backgrounds, and to develop an inclusive curriculum that acknowledges and celebrates diversity.

This work is a living process, and together we will leverage the intellect, talents, and passions of our community to continue learning and taking thoughtful and meaningful actions toward these goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Learn more about DEI within the College of Fine Arts.

  • We welcome you to reach out if you have any feedback, concerns or questions. You can reach us at cfa-dei@andrew.cmu.edu.

  • A student, staff, faculty member, third party, or campus visitor may learn more about reporting a Bias Incident to the Office for Institutional Equity via this link.

  • 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 the School of Design, 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.

    School of Design Community
    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 for definitions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: How to Talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion By Alida Miranda-Wolff