Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mission Statement

At the Columbia School of Social Work, we believe that systems of racial oppression that impact our engagement across all sectors of society must be studied and challenged in order to dismantle these systems and address inequities across social identities. We are committed to centering race in our pursuit of social justice and anti-oppressive practice. We view this as a guiding principle for our community – using a power, race, oppression and privilege (PROP) framework across our curriculum, administrative practices, operations and personal interactions. Through the PROP lens, we aim to foster brave spaces where students, faculty and staff can engage in critically analyzing and addressing institutionalized racism, multi-systemic inequities, and various forms of oppression, thus creating an environment where diversity, equity and inclusion are at the center of our research, scholarship and all interactions with individuals, organizations and communities that we serve.

Approved in spring 2020.