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The plan is guided by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, Two-Year Action Plan for Inclusive Excellence, and a widely-used model known as Inclusive Excellence.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

American University values open and honest inquiry, servant leadership, and the affirmation of the human dignity of all. We envision a thriving American University community where individuals of all identities and experiences are understood, appreciated, and fully included, and where equitable treatment and support prevail.

As a learning and research institution, AU strives to be defined by inclusive excellence. This commitment requires that we hold ourselves accountable for achieving real change based on clear and transparent measures and that we regularly examine ourselves and everything we do. Integrated into the core of the institution, the Inclusive Excellence framework advances the idea that diversity, equity, and inclusion are catalysts for achieving institutional and educational excellence through:

  • the compositional diversity of our administrative leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees;
  • the alignment of our policies and organizational structures;
  • the innovative nature of our curricula and co-curricular programs; and
  • our ability to welcome, value, and affirm all members of our community.

Action Plan for Inclusive Excellence

The action plan provides comprehensive details on action steps by year of implementation and assignment of responsibility.

Phase II Action Plan (PDF)

Phase I Action Plan (PDF)

Survey Data

For more information on the Campus Climate Survey and the National Survey of Student Engagement, please reference the Building an Inclusive Campus Community for Undergraduates at AU report by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Please note, this link requires an AU login to access.

Glossary of Key Terms

Glossary (PDF)

Defining Inclusive Excellence

This plan is guided by a widely-used model known as , an organizational culture-change framework designed by higher education scholar-practitioners at the Association of American Colleges and Universities in 2005. It provides a cohesive, coherent, and collaborative approach to infusing diversity into every aspect of organizational structures, systems, and practices. 

Inclusive Excellence advances the idea that diversity, equity, and inclusion are catalysts for achieving institutional and educational excellence, and are to be integrated into the core of the institution, not viewed as discrete initiatives or isolated problems to be solved. Through the Inclusive Excellence lens, diversity, equity, and inclusion are embraced as vital elements that are necessary in the pursuit of educational excellence.Â