Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education (CDIHE)

Foundational Cornerstones

Operational activities require an organizational framework for success.

Focusing exclusively on operational activities often results in fragmented, disconnected, un-coordinated, siloed, and sometimes redundant or outdated approaches to the work of DEI.

Alternatively, some institutions drive the work of DEI by establishing foundational cornerstones as guiding principles:

• Mission-driven imperative 

• Accountability/metrics 

• Ethical practice 

• Commitment to institutional change

• Definitions of diversity that are inclusive and differentiated