December 20, 2020

Anti-Racism at Columbia – Fall Term Reports

On Tuesday, December 15th, 2020, the Office of University Life sent the following announcement to the Columbia community.

Dear Columbia Community,

We write today to share two important reports: Columbia's Commitment to Anti-Racism – A Midyear Progress Report (Fall Term 2020) and the Report of the Inclusive Public Safety Working Group. Each reflects significant contributions by Columbia students, faculty and staff in response to President Bollinger’s July 2020 call to action on Columbia’s anti-racism commitment. The work described is ongoing and is essential for the creation of a truly inclusive anti-racist culture and community for all at Columbia.

Columbia's Commitment to Anti-Racism highlights many new and continuing efforts in our schools, institutes and central administration to address racism, especially anti-Black racism. Its five focal points are: Student Experience; Faculty Hiring, Support and Capacity Building; Staff Experience; Inclusive Public Safety; and Neighborhood Partnerships.  

The Report includes several important appendices that we encourage you to read with care: 1) Anti-Racism Initiatives in Columbia’s Schools and Institutes, 2) Community-Based Programs and Partnerships of Columbia’s Schools, Institutes and Departments in Harlem & Washington Heights, and 3) Report of the Staff Experience Working Group.

The fourth appendix is the Report of the Inclusive Public Safety Working Group, which includes observations and initial recommendations from this working group of students, faculty and staff from across the University.

We appreciate your taking the time to review these reports, hope you find them informative and invite you to
 learn more about Columbia's commitment to anti-racismWe look forward to further opportunities to join in conversation on these reports in the Spring term. In the meantime, we can be reached at [email protected].

In community,

Suzanne B. Goldberg
Executive Vice President for University Life
Herbert and Doris Wechsler Clinical Professor of Law

Dennis A. Mitchell
Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement
Professor of Dental Medicine at CUMC

Anne L. Taylor
Senior Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Career Development
John Lindenbaum Professor of Medicine at CUMC

Flores A. Forbes
Associate Vice President for Community Affairs