Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Mission
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion fosters dignity and respect ensuring that all members of the HWS community have an equal opportunity to thrive.
Within the DEI Office are programs, centers and initiatives designed to build belonging including:
- First Generation Initiative
- LGBTQ+ Resource Center
- Alger Adams '32 Intercultural Center
- International Student Success
- Opportunity Programs
- POSSE
- Bias Incidence Response Team (BIRT)
Diversity Statement
At Hobart and William Smith Colleges, we strive to create a just and inclusive environment where all students, faculty and staff are valued and respected. We believe that diversity in identity and perspective enriches our community and prepares us all to lead lives of consequence. We recognize that historical practices and policies have privileged certain groups while excluding others from institutions of higher education, and thus the work of diversity at HWS seeks to account for those inequities by promoting college access and working to ensure that every member of the HWS community has an equal opportunity to thrive.
What We Do
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) works with partners across campus to build an educational, residential and professional environment where all community members feel valued and respected. We envision a community where equity and inclusion are practiced, and where every community member understands the value and benefit they receive from learning, working, and living in a diverse community. By focusing on the following key areas: recruitment and retention, campus climate, and education, the Office strives to both enhance the representation of diverse individuals on campus and cultivate a sense of belonging for all.
- Recruitment and Retention: ODEI works to increase the recruitment of historically underrepresented students, faculty and staff on campus and offers programs and initiatives to ensure their success. A student demographics “snapshot” can be found here.
- Campus Climate: ODEI cultivates an environment where all students, faculty and staff feel respected and have a sense of belonging. ODEI uses various mechanisms to assess the campus climate and develop necessary interventions to respond.
- Education: ODEI collaborates with various offices to ensure that institution wide opportunities for diversity education and cultural competency are available and accessed by students, faculty and staff.
DEI News
Belonging-Diversity-&-EquityDavenport Earns DEI Leadership Award
The National Dance Education Organization honors Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Donna Davenport for her outstanding work on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Adams-intercultural-centerAlger Adams Scholars Recognized
Awards highlight outstanding students.
AlumsA Sense of Freedom and Belonging
Trustee Mehrnaz “Naz” Vahid-Ahdieh ’85, P’17 came to the U.S. to escape the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Her recent gift establishes a scholarship to support students who have also come to the U.S. as refugees or immigrants.