Equity, Diversity
& Inclusion
The University of Pittsburgh defines sustainability as the balance between equity, economics, and the environment so current and future generations can thrive. Equity is a key pillar of sustainability and is crucial to building a just future where all can thrive. With the systemic racism that has occurred over the history of our country, as well as recent incidents of social injustice, our commitment to equity is more important now than ever.
Diversity Statement
In our mission to incorporate the Pitt Sustainability Plan into the foundation of the university, we are fully committed to creating a culture where sustainability and equity, diversity, and inclusion thrive hand-in-hand. Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income communities, suffer most from the effects of environmental contamination than other communities.
For example, 3 out of 5 Black Americans live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste sites.These groups have also long been subject to racism and exclusion within the environmental studies field. We have, and will continue, to combat these issues of the past and present to achieve a more sustainable, equitable future in the Pitt community and beyond.
Learn how Pitt is changing internal practices, structures and attitudes in pursuit of a truly more equitable and just university.
- Monthly diversity celebrations, like Black History Month and Pride Month!
- Find and commit to a diverse supplier base when making purchases through Panther Express. Learn more and find purchasing options that support diversity and check out the vendor contracting diversity dashboard.
- Make a bias incident report and what to expect when reporting. Bias incidents may include, but are not limited to, incidents of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation prohibited by our Policies, Procedures, and Practices, including those related to sexual misconduct.
- Sexual Misconduct Resources, including educational resources to bring awareness to sexual assault issues and Pitt networks with people supporting survivors.
- More Pitt LGBTQIA+ resources including study abroad and Greek life information for people in the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Disability Access, including accommodations for people with disabilities and academic and community resources.
- Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance – The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX is here to assist in responding to and addressing reports of harassment and discrimination. The office oversees policies and processes to respond to bias incidents. Includes, but not limited to, information on how to make a report on discrimination or harassment and campus resources like counseling services.
Pitt Community Resources
- Monthly diversity celebrations, like Black History Month and Pride Month!
- Find and commit to a diverse supplier base when making purchases through Panther Express. Learn more and find purchasing options that support diversity and check out the vendor contracting diversity dashboard.
- Make a bias incident report and what to expect when reporting. Bias incidents may include, but are not limited to, incidents of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation prohibited by our Policies, Procedures, and Practices, including those related to sexual misconduct.
- Sexual Misconduct Resources, including educational resources to bring awareness to sexual assault issues and Pitt networks with people supporting survivors.
- More Pitt LGBTQIA+ resources including study abroad and Greek life information for people in the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Disability Access, including accommodations for people with disabilities and academic and community resources.
- Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance – The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX is here to assist in responding to and addressing reports of harassment and discrimination. The office oversees policies and processes to respond to bias incidents. Includes, but not limited to, information on how to make a report on discrimination or harassment and campus resources like counseling services.
Educational Resources
- Anti-Racism resources from the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Includes, but is not limited to:
- Educational Initiatives like Institutional Equity Workshops
- Antiracism resource guides like one from the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences that includes, but is not limited to, antiracism reading resources and organizations to support.
- Past educational events such as recordings from the 2020 Diversity Forum, Town Hall programs, and programs from the Center on Race and Social Problems
- Anti-racism reading list recommendations organized by category and age group
- Learn more about the experiences of black individuals in the criminal justice system
- Implicit bias: Understanding and confronting it
- 103 ways to use your privilege to support racial justice
- Watch “The path to ending systemic racism in the US” where Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Rashad Robinson, Dr. Bernice King and Anthony D. Romero discuss dismantling the systems of oppression
- Shattering the Statistics: A Collective Effort Towards Ending Sexual Violence Education Series. This educational series will be targeted towards the University community to explore and bring awareness to issues around sexual misconduct and ongoing prevention initiatives.
- One-credit Pitt course: Anti-Black Racism: History, Ideology, and Resistance
- Center on Race and Social Problems Speaker Series (Upcoming and past events). Monthly in-person lectures on topics of Race and Social Problems from outstanding scholars in the field of social science and other disciplines. It is now on Zoom as well.
- Center on Race and Social Problems areas of focus with accompanying educational resources, including, but not limited to, economics, health, older adults, and youth and family.
- Center on Race and Social Problems publications and additional resources, from opinion pieces to reading recommendations.
- Learn more about anti-racism from the PittEd Justice Collective, a three-year working group at the School of Education that is engaged in anti-racist, justice-directed initiatives with students, staff, faculty, alumni, families, youth, and district and community partners.
- What’s wrong with saying “all lives matter” video
Antiracism resources to support Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Communities from the Pitt Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, including reading recommendations and organizations to support.
Get Involved
Help build an equitable future where all can thrive by joining a campus group or committee.
Diversity Forum
The annual Diversity Forum provides an opportunity for attendees to learn from experts and help build an inclusive, equitable, and just society. This year’s theme is “Rewiring Our Systems: Transforming the Intersections of Inequity.”
