In 2015, Harris formalized its commitment to diversity and inclusion. With the guidance of the School’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board (DIAB), Harris developed a statement to encapsulate our shared mission and vision for diversity and inclusion.

Ahead of the 2020-2021 academic year, we renewed our commitment to reflect the guiding principles of Harris’ D&I Roadmap, which sets strategic priorities for the advancement of diversity and inclusion across all facets of the school’s mission.

Under the leadership of Harris’ Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, this effort represents the school’s first-ever strategic diversity and inclusion plan.

Explore the D&I Roadmap & Our Progress

Our Commitment

The Harris School of Public Policy welcomes and respects students, faculty, and staff from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives as part of our commitment to building an inclusive community.

As a leading public policy school, Harris holds diversity as a core value. That includes not only diversity of opinion, but diversity along a broad spectrum of factors, including race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, religion, socio-economic background, and social or political belief. Recognizing the value of diversity and inclusion is essential to combating discrimination, addressing disparities, and cultivating ethical and clear-eyed policy leadership.

Harris enlists all members of the school’s community to maintain a welcoming environment for scholarship and learning that helps students develop the understanding and tools to drive better policy in their communities and around the world. As a school, we empower our community to advance policy based on evidence, not ideology.

Consistent with the University of Chicago’s commitment to free expression, we believe that open discourse is vital to our mission as a policy school.  Harris encourages its leadership, faculty, student body, and administrative staff to respect and engage with others of differing backgrounds or perspectives, even when the ideas or insights shared may be viewed as unpopular or controversial.  Recognizing that diverse views, as well as political, cultural, religious, and social differences, can sometimes create tensions, Harris aims to foster thought-provoking discourse by encouraging community members to speak freely about all issues. We are a place where difficult questions are discussed with mutual respect and open minds.