“Systemic change requires systemic commitment. In order to live up to its values of diversity and excellence, Princeton must capitalize on its unique strengths and acknowledge the work that remains to be done. Building on past progress, we must make even greater investments in initiatives that support demographic evolution, sense of belonging, access and outreach, and scholarly innovation. We must hold ourselves accountable institutionally and as individual community members.”
Michele Minter, Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity
This website provides updates on Princeton’s commitments to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion and combat racism. In addition to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annual Report, regular updates about actions and opportunities to offer input and feedback are posted periodically.
An update on University commitments as of May 1, 2022 is now available.
Highlights
The 2021-22 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annual Report describes the University’s aspirations, reviews progress toward them, promotes accountability, and looks ahead toward new goal and initiatives. The report takes shape around community involvement; highlighting the many ways Princetonians have activated themselves and their communities to strengthen scholarship, research, teaching and the campus community. While we celebrate these and many other areas where earnest work is underway, we also understand there is much more work to do. We welcome your feedback and ideas.
The following statement by Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber was shared in an email to the University community on June 29, 2023.
Today the United States Supreme Court backed away from more than fifty years of established case law allowing colleges and universities to take race into account as one factor among many in a holistic admission process. Those precedents wisely recognized that colleges and universities must have some discretion to determine how best to find and attract the talent that exists in every sector of our society. Today’s decision narrows that discretion significantly.
This morning’s opinion is unwelcome and disappointing, but it is not unexpected. Princeton has been preparing for this possibility with assistance and advice from legal counsel. While today’s decision will make our work more difficult, we will work vigorously to preserve — and, indeed, grow — the diversity of our community while fully respecting the law as announced today.
I may have more to say after my colleagues and I have had an opportunity to examine the details of today’s decision. For now, I will reiterate principles and commitments fundamental to this University’s mission:
- Talent exists in every sector of American society, and we have an obligation to attract exceptional people of every background and enable them to flourish on our campus.
- Diversity benefits learning and scholarship by broadening the range of questions, perspectives, and experiences brought to bear on important topics throughout the University.
- Our multicultural society requires that, in the words of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, “the path to leadership [must] be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.”
For all these reasons and more, diversity is essential to the excellence of this University and to the future of our country and the world. Princeton will pursue it with energy, persistence, and a determination to succeed despite the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court in its regrettable decision today.
“We must think broadly and ask hard questions of ourselves. We must reflect on our place in the world and challenge ourselves to identify additional steps we can take to fight racism. As a University, we must examine all aspects of this institution—from our scholarly work to our daily operations—with a critical eye and a bias toward action. This will be an ongoing process, one that depends on concrete and reasoned steps."
- President Christopher L. Eisgruber, Sept. 2, 2020