Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our Commitment to Diversity 

We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone is treated fairly and has equal access to opportunities and resources. As a school for public policy, we understand the importance of embracing a variety of viewpoints and perspectives. And our community of faculty, staff, and students welcomes and values these differences as we build a community in which everyone thrives.  

The Schar School strongly support Mason’s efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive academic environment through the work of the:

Pulse Students Looking U

Our Ongoing Initiatives 

Since 2016, the Schar School has undertaken an extensive analysis of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The data demonstrated that 35% of those hired identify as BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color), 52% identify as people of color, and 65% are women. The report also found no difference in retention and graduation rates for underrepresented students and the student body as a whole at the master’s degree level.

Since fall 2016, the Schar School has hired 31 new faculty and staff members, and more than a third are from underrepresented racial groups—including among faculty hires. Over the next four years, we are undertaking 12 tenure-line searches.

Because the work of cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment is ongoing, we will continue to seek ways in which we can support all members of our community.