Dear Members of the George Washington Community,
At the George Washington University, our mission is rooted in the belief that higher education must prepare students to engage thoughtfully in a world of complex differences. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not abstract ideals for our community — they are foundational principles that shape how we teach, learn, conduct research, and serve society. As the university’s most senior academic officer and most senior diversity officer, and with the full endorsement and support of the President and the university leadership team, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing these values across every dimension of the university consistent with the law.
The academic enterprise is strengthened by diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. When students, faculty, and staff with different viewpoints come together, they challenge assumptions, expand intellectual horizons, and foster innovation. Equity ensures that all members of our community have equal access to opportunities and the support needed to thrive. Inclusion ensures that every individual — regardless of perspective, background, or experience — feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute.
We have long believed in these values, but we are writing today having been inspired by last week’s OneGW Summit that focused on Community, Culture, and Inclusion. The Summit carried a common theme of “Do the next right thing,” and we agreed that our next right thing was to publicly and emphatically reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This feels especially important at a time when there are concerns about higher education’s retreat from these values, with many in our own community wondering if GW was doing the same. We are not.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that the legal landscape has changed. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in the Students for Fair Admissions case made it clear that neither race nor other protected characteristics can be considered in university admissions. The law also prohibits consideration of race and other protected characteristics in hiring and other employment actions and in university programs and activities.
GW is committed to following the law. We are thoughtfully working with legal counsel to review our policies, programs, procedures, and documentation to ensure compliance with the law and our university values. We are also carefully reviewing program descriptions and website language to be sure they are not misconstrued. In the limited cases where we have already made revisions, they were implemented discerningly. This review will be ongoing, and the Provost’s Office and the Office of the General Counsel will be in communication with the appropriate teams and website managers directly if any changes need to be made. We will work collaboratively across GW to ensure our language reflects our values in alignment with the law.
As part of this review, we updated the GW Statement on Diversity and Inclusion to reaffirm our commitment to these principles and to following all applicable law in doing so. The statement includes an explicit commitment to non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and fostering an inclusive and respectful environment that enables everyone to flourish. As discussed throughout the OneGW Summit, we must ensure individuals and groups with different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences are respected and included, amplifying the importance of civil discourse, constructive dialogue, and actions that enable our differences to strengthen us, not divide us.
At the George Washington University, our commitment translates into concrete actions in areas such as:
- Expanding access for all students
- Investing in programs, resources, and centers
- Supporting faculty diversity in backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences
- Supporting curriculum and scholarship that address pressing societal challenges
- Building inclusive university environments where dialogue, belonging, and civil discourse are prioritized and necessary
- Partnering with individuals and groups in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to promote collaboration, discourse, and opportunities for growth
These efforts are ongoing, and our work is far from complete. We are thoughtfully evaluating how best to strengthen and support key areas of the university that advance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we will share updates later this semester, including about the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement. Building our OneGW community requires continuous reflection, accountability, and collaboration, and we remain committed to assessing our progress through the transparent use of data, listening to and implementing feedback from students, faculty, and staff, and adapting our strategies to meet evolving needs. Our commitment is unwavering.
Higher education has a unique responsibility to model the inclusive society we aspire to build – one in which everyone can thrive. At the George Washington University, we embrace that responsibility. By embracing diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, by advancing equity through equal opportunity, and by cultivating inclusion and respect for all, we not only enhance our pursuit of excellence in education, research, and service — we prepare the next generation of leaders to serve a dynamic, complex, and interconnected world.
Together, we will continue to build a university community where excellence and inclusion go hand in hand.
Sincerely,
John Lach, PhD
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Jordan Shelby West, PhD
Associate Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement