Governance Documents

Reed College Diversity and Anti-Racism Statements

Approved April 24, 2021

Reed College Diversity Statement

Reed College is a community dedicated to serious and open intellectual inquiry, one in which students, faculty, and staff can fully participate, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, socio-economic status, or disabilities. Reed embraces the inherent value of diversity. It is committed to attracting the best and brightest from every group, including those who have historically experienced discrimination and prejudice, for it recognizes that dialogue between people with different perspectives, values, and backgrounds enhances the possibilities for serious intellectual inquiry. The College is also committed to creating an environment that respects the dignity and civil rights of all persons, particularly those from groups that have experienced discrimination and persecution, for it recognizes that intolerance and prejudice diminish those possibilities.

Reed is dedicated to the honor principle, which expects that each of us actively maintains an open mind and generous heart in order to create a community that welcomes and supports all of its members. When the honor principle is realized, every member of the community is respected, and can speak, work, teach, and learn free from intolerance or harassment.

Every member of the Reed community benefits from the talents and experiences of our peers, from the mutual respect we exercise, and from the responsibilities we take for our actions. Each of us deserves equal opportunity to teach, to learn, and to grow.

(Adopted November 28, 2009)

Reed College Anti-Racism Statement

Reed College is committed to fostering an environment in which students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds can live, work, and learn free from the insidious and debilitating effects of prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization.

Racism in all its forms is antithetical to this commitment. Racism occurs with and without malicious intent, often as a result of unconscious bias. We recognize that the effects of racism are caused not only by the isolated actions of individuals, but also by the policies and practices of institutions. Whether intentional or unintentional, individual or institutional, racism is harmful and dehumanizing and has adverse effects on our community.

We acknowledge the historical legacy of exclusion and marginalization in higher education. We affirm our responsibility to continuously learn about and disrupt systems of privilege, inequality, and oppression, and to reform our programs, policies, pedagogy, and practices in accordance with this responsibility.

We expect that every member of the community will work to combat racism - both intentional and unintentional. This requires that we work to improve listening and enhance empathy, at both personal and institutional levels.

We commit to helping the community identify and challenge discrimination and marginalization of any sort. Institutional policies and practices deserve particular scrutiny, including but not limited to: the recruitment and retention of students; the recruitment, hiring, retention, and professional development of a faculty and staff; curriculum and pedagogy; health and other student support services; and overall campus climate.

We are constantly reminded that much work needs to be done to achieve racial equity. We implore every member of our community to dedicate themselves to this goal.