Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The collective strength and intellectual power of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reside in the diversity of its community.
Our learning and research successes are built on a variety of perspectives, people, and experiences. The College, therefore, is committed to building and enhancing a diverse and equitable faculty, staff, and student community, and to supporting innovative research and learning experiences that will shape a better tomorrow for all people.
We also are keenly aware that CLAS, like any institution of higher education, can do better to fully meet the needs of its constituents. We dedicate ourselves to the ongoing work of building and supporting inclusion at all levels.
Current Priorities
Diversity Research
Our researchers advance diversity scholarship across disciplines, earning national recognition and support for their work. Recent examples include:
- Sociology professor David Embrick received national recognition from the Society for the Study of Social Problems and the American Sociological Association for his extensive research on contemporary racism.
- Marie Coppola, professor of psychological sciences and linguistics, was awarded an American Association for the Advancement of Science Science & Technology Policy Fellowship to work on disability policy in Washington, D.C.
- Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies within the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry was awarded $100,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of its Affirming Multivocal Humanities initiative.
Undergraduate Mentorship Programs
Our College's mentorship programs provide undergraduates students with unique learning experiences and mentorship from UConn alums. The CLAS Women’s Leadership Collective helps participants navigate the unique challenges they face as they enter the workforce and advance in leadership positions. The CLAS First Generation Mentorship Program connects students who are the first in their family to go to college with resources, personalized support, community, and professional development.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Funding
To support the College’s commitment to ethical social engagement, dynamic research, and inclusive climate, CLAS provides an internal funding opportunity for scholarship, programming, and/or other initiatives that advance ongoing struggles against injustice and oppression. These grants respond to the CLAS Strategic Plan’s goal to “build and continually support an academic environment and workplace where diverse faculty, staff, and students feel valued and thrive.” The grants provide funding to stimulate meaningful and lasting impact.
Our Academic Programs
Scholarship on inequality, diversity, and race has long been a centerpiece of the College. Our interdisciplinary centers, institutes, and programs have worked for decades on issues of social inequalities, race, gender, and human rights. The faculty and students in these programs have dedicated their academic lives to understanding injustice, and their intellectual network places CLAS at the forefront of diversity research at UConn.