DEI at Drexel and Why It Matters

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action policies are unlawful, which prevented students from disclosing their race in their applications to Drexel and other universities. However, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices at most universities seek to remedy race disparities in college admissions at a much deeper level than what detractors of affirmative action see.

With continued training and allyship, people of all backgrounds can look forward to living in a world where they can speak, exist, and advocate for themselves freely.

At Drexel, the Office of DEI's vision reads, "Guided by the University's Strategic Plan and commitment to anti-racism, we will cultivate a more diverse, equitable and inclusive culture of belonging at Drexel University that will be a model for other universities." Drexel was also awarded the 2023 HEED Award from Insight into Diversity magazine. Those from all marginalized backgrounds can vouch for their experiences running deeper than statistics and buzzwords and as such, Drexel focuses on diversity to improve the social and lived experiences of marginalized students, professional staff, and faculty on campus.

Improving systemic prejudices starts at the individual and behavioral level, so Drexel hosts key programming such as inclusive hiring practices, educational events and workshops, financially supporting faculty interest groups, and resources to encourage greater diversity in the classroom. For example, the Drexel Woman Faculty Group is a supportive, safe space for women faculty, while the Anti-Racism Task Force (ARTF) is an educational resource for students and staff to fight for antiracism in all levels of society. One of Drexel's biggest DEI events recently was the 2nd Annual PRIDE 4 LGBTQ+ Symposium for sharing research, networking opportunities, and roundtable discussions.

Drexel also has the Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture (EIC) as a physical space to create the university's strategic planning for diversity. Having a concrete strategy gives Drexel traction and room to assess their current plans. In our own office, our optional supplemental essay asks students to speak about a social issue they are passionate about and how they would use Drexel's resources to address that issue. More specifically, it invites students to share more about their background and how it impacts who they are as an individual, not just a statistic or box to check. Socially, not being the only woman, person of color, queer/trans person, or able-bodied person in the room can make all the difference in feeling comfortable enough to speak up. With continued training and allyship, people of all backgrounds can look forward to living in a world where they can speak, exist, and advocate for themselves freely.