Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP)

About the DIAP

Pathways to Diversity and Inclusion: An Action Plan for Brown University (DIAP) is Brown’s strategic plan for creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable academic institution for the success of every member of our community.

In February 2016, Brown University released Pathways to Diversity and Inclusion: An Action Plan for Brown University to create a more diverse and inclusive community and to ensure that this work — which is essential to fulfilling Brown’s vision for academic excellence — is centered in all aspects of University life. The Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, or DIAP, focuses on a set of concrete, achievable actions.

In 2021, five years after the DIAP, Brown released DIAP Phase II, which re-commits to the goals established in the original action plan. Phase II does not replace the DIAP, but rather is a companion of the original document.

Through these plans, Brown has committed to transforming the policies, structures and practices that have led to the exclusion — rather than the meaningful inclusion — of some members of the community.

The strengths of the DIAP are its concrete, measurable goals; University-wide engagement by academic and administrative units across campus to achieve the goals; and commitment to accountability through a robust system of oversight.

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Six Priority Areas

The DIAP and DIAP Phase II prioritize actions in six areas that further Brown’s mission:

People — identifying, recruiting and retaining students, faculty and staff from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education
Academic Excellence — creating a learning environment in which students from all backgrounds can thrive in their chosen fields of study; providing scholarly resources to support education and leading-edge research; and sustaining the University’s commitment to the highest standards of research and teaching
Curriculum — reforming, expanding and developing courses, seminars and other learning opportunities around diversity, inclusion and related topics
Community — creating a community that works actively to counteract inequity and injustice and that promotes an attitude of mutual respect
Knowledge — collecting and sharing data to benchmark and measure progress
Accountability — ensuring the steps outlined in the DIAP are carried out

DIAP Phase II

The second phase of implementation for the DIAP, DIAP Phase II, further advances the University’s goals and desired outcomes within each priority area.

DIAP Phase II:

Reflects on and assesses the impact of the DIAP over its first five years
Refreshes the plan’s goals and highlights new and continuing actions to address emerging issues and sustain progress
Clarifies the concepts of diversity and inclusion for the Brown community
Updates the DIAP’s governance structure
Offers a set of tools to guide the work of every department charged with maintaining this momentum

Learn More about DIAP Phase II

Campus-wide Engagement: DDIAPs

A key element of both the DIAP and DIAP Phase II is the campus-wide involvement of academic and administrative units across Brown to realize diversity and inclusion goals.

Every academic and administrative unit has been called upon to submit an approved Departmental Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DDIAP) aligned with the University's overall set of concrete actions. Departments and offices must provide an annual update on progress toward their goals at the conclusion of the academic year.

Departmental Plans and Reports