School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Approved, October 2020
In response to the present national crisis galvanized by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others, we, the members of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, stand united in condemning racism in all forms, asserting that Black lives matter, and acknowledging that the future of our citizenry will be shaped by how we confront institutionalized racism today.
As part of our commitment to our students, our scholarly disciplines, and our communities, we pledge to take the following actions:
- Each program in our school will emphasize the role that race and power relations play within its designated field of study. Our students will gain a deeper understanding of various groups and cultures, identify their roles within a diverse society, and learn how diverse peoples and ideas contribute to the development of societies around the world.
- We will review every aspect of our school policies and procedures – including the recruitment and retention of students, staff, and faculty of color – in order to advance equality, remove structural inequities, and reject institutionalized bias.
- We will institute a committee to recommend further actions, review best practices, and monitor our progress in fulfilling these commitments.
These measures convey our goal to be respectful of all the people and communities we engage, and reflect our school’s broader mission to study, promote, and honor all humankind.