Engineering Inclusive Excellence
GW Engineering aspires to be a community in which all members have a strong sense of belonging and an equitable opportunity to thrive. We further aspire to be a leading organization in addressing systemic issues and promoting inclusive excellence throughout the fields of engineering and computing science.
The Inclusive Excellence initiative at GW Engineering is therefore dedicated to:
- Providing academic and professional equity within inclusive and welcoming environments.
- Empowering students, staff, and faculty with the skills, knowledge, and framework to actively contribute to inclusive excellence.
- Cultivating a supportive climate that fosters success and sense of belonging for all students, staff, and faculty.
- Designing learning opportunities that recognize and leverage differences as assets in problem solving.
- Engaging in deliberate, timely, and meaningful research, discussions, pedagogy, and scholarship that advances engineering and computing science through the lenses of equity and inclusion.
- Promoting inclusive excellence throughout the fields of engineering and computer science.
Our commitment to inclusive excellence is based on the belief that every individual’s identity, perspective, and lived experience bring inherent value to our community and that the expression of that individuality contributes to our school’s pursuit of excellence. This is especially true in engineering and computing, as diversity of thought is critical to innovation and to solving society’s most challenging problems.
We must therefore actively foster a culture of inclusion and respect in our school, ensuring that each member has a strong sense of belonging, firm knowledge of their value to our community, and an equitable opportunity to thrive, engage, express themself, and achieve their full potential as their most authentic self.
This culture is the bedrock of our efforts to foster and sustain leadership, innovation, vital community partnerships, economic growth, and competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world. We further recognize that this commitment requires continuous organizational and personal growth fueled by learning and reflexivity and that our responsibility extends beyond GW Engineering to GW and the entire field of engineering and computing.
The 2024 Action Plan for GW Engineering was meticulously developed by the Inclusive Excellence Steering Committee, drawing from the insights gathered through extensive stakeholder engagement and a comprehensive SWOT analysis. This plan prioritizes key initiatives across four main areas: Communications, Engagement, Training and Development, and Leadership. These initiatives are designed to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment within GW Engineering, ensuring that every member of our community feels valued and supported.
In GW Engineering, we define diversity as representation of identities and thought. Diversity is quantifiable and measurable; it tells us who and how many people are in the room.
In GW Engineering, we define inclusion as the active process we commit to each day that encourages, supports, and creates a community wherein all people feel they belong and deserve to be a part.
Action Plan Priorities
Communications:
Effective communication is the cornerstone of our Inclusive Excellence efforts. To this end, we will create and maintain a GW Engineering Inclusive Excellence webpage and dashboard that catalogs ongoing initiatives and achievements within the school. Additionally, we will draft and implement an Inclusive Excellence Communications Plan, ensuring consistent and transparent updates. An Inclusive Excellence report, detailing progress and impact, will be developed at the end of each year and shared with the broader GW Engineering community. This will not only keep everyone informed but also foster a sense of collective ownership and pride in our inclusivity efforts.Engagement:
Our entire community must work together to drive change. The Inclusive Excellence Steering Committee will work directly with the existing student-driven entity, SEAS Together, to holistically coordinate the school’s Inclusive Excellence efforts. A structured meeting cadence will be established to ensure collaboration in the implementation and continued development of this action plan. Furthermore, we will create and launch an Inclusive Excellence Fund to support students, staff, and faculty in their Inclusive Excellence endeavors, providing the necessary resources to bring their ideas and projects to life.Training and Development:
Education and ongoing development are crucial for fostering an inclusive culture. We will establish clear Inclusive Excellence training expectations and opportunities for staff and faculty, ensuring that everyone is empowered with the knowledge and skills to contribute to an inclusive environment. Similarly, student leaders will also have defined Inclusive Excellence training expectations, preparing them to lead by example. Staff and faculty will be encouraged to include an Inclusive Excellence strategy as part of their annual goals, promoting active engagement in initiatives such as working with SEAS Together, developing and evaluating Inclusive Excellence Fund applications, and updating department/unit recruiting and hiring processes to incorporate Inclusive Excellence principles.Leadership:
Dedicated and specialized personnel are vital for the sustained success of our inclusivity efforts. We will finalize and launch a plan to onboard a dedicated Inclusive Excellence Director, who will oversee the action plan and coordinate with our school community to ensure successful implementation. This will bring specialized expertise and focus to our Inclusive Excellence efforts, helping to embed these values deeply within and across our school culture.
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Reporting a Bias Incident
Report any potential bias incidents to our Bias Incident Response Team to help ensure a safe and supportive community for all.