Barnard College Barnard College
Institutional Commitments

Campus climate and culture

Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in imagining and building community.

Diversity Cabinet

  • Appointed by the Vice President for Inclusion and Engaged Learning, the DEI Cabinet is a team of faculty and administrative leaders charged with advisory of institutional efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Barnard. Current members include: Nikki Youngblood Giles, Vice-Dean for Campus Life; Colin Wayne Leach, Dean of Faculty Diversity and Development; and Holly Tedder, Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising.

Climate surveys - NACCC

  • The National Assessment of Collegial Campus Climate (NACCC) survey from USC’s Racial Equity Center is implemented in a 3-year cycle. This survey gives undergraduate students, faculty, and staff a voice in Barnard’s institutional commitment to equity and inclusion, racial literacy and learning. Results from the surveys are shared with the Barnard community for reflection, discussion, and strategic recommendations. Executive Summary of the 2020 survey here: https://barnard.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/20220119_NACCCExecutiveSummary_FINAL.pdf

Employee Resource Groups

  • Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a self-driven, voluntary initiative aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among Barnard staff and surrounding communities. ERGs facilitate connection and professional growth for their members while acting as a valuable resource to participants and the College.

Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Created by the President's Task Force on Diversity in April 2017, the Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion promotes and coordinates campus-wide participation in the College’s diversity and inclusion efforts and advises Barnard’s senior leadership on ongoing and new initiatives that create a more diverse and inclusive campus community. https://barnard.edu/council-diversity-equity-inclusion

DEI Council Grants

  • The Barnard DEI Grant, awarded by the DEI Council, financially supports our community members’ efforts to help foster inclusion and belonging on campus. In 2023, the grant awarded five projects that will initiate programs and events this upcoming academic year. https://barnard.edu/barnard-dei-grants

Capacity-building within departments and offices

  • The Office of DEI  collaborates with staff to tailor and execute training programs, provide supplementary assistance for events and workshops, and collaborate on upcoming DEI-related initiatives.

CU/TC/BC partnership for faculty (TCUB Connects)

  • In Fall 2022, Barnard College, Columbia University and Teachers College partnered to create a series of faculty networking programs called TCUB Connects, featuring faculty research collaborations and diversity initiatives across Columbia's schools.  https://barnard.edu/events/tcub-connects-engaged-scholarship

LGBTQ+ Resources 

  • The DEI Office serves as a resource hub for LGBTQIA+ individuals at Barnard, coordinating programs and initiatives across the college that promote inclusivity and belonging. It offers a centralized webpage to support the comprehensive efforts of the College in assisting the LGBTQ+ community.

          https://barnard.edu/dei/lgbtq

Religious and Spiritual Resources

  • Just as other identity elements, religion can influence how members of the Barnard community interact with the world, access resources, and engage with work and learning spaces. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provides support and access through a dedicated webpage for both religious and non-religious community members. https://barnard.edu/religious-spiritual-resources

Cultural and International Clubs

  • In 1968, a group of Black students established the Barnard Organization of Soul Sisters (BOSS) and, a year later, presented College administrators with a list of 10 demands. BOSS remains an active presence on campus, offering mentorship and fostering a sense of community to empower its members to take on leadership roles.

    Now, approximately 20 clubs and associations are available at Barnard to support students in discovering and embracing their unique identities within the diverse and global student community. Among the popular choices are Q, catering to the College's LGBTQ+ community, and the Mujeres club, which provides a space for Barnard's Latina students. The full list of student organizations can be found here: https://barnard.edu/student-organizations