The Department acknowledges the barriers and structures that have historically worked to exclude people from the discipline of political science on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, class, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, political viewpoint, and other classifications. It also recognizes that important topics and concerns that have a political character have been marginalized and neglected by political scientists.

 
The Department is a community of scholars devoted to free, rigorous, critical inquiry into a wide range of important questions about the world of politics. To better realize its scholarly mission, the Department is committed to enhancing the diversity of its community, so that a broader range of perspectives and experiences are represented among faculty and students. The Department also seeks to open up new opportunities for the study and understanding of race, ethnicity, and identity. 
 
In support of its teaching and research mission, the Department strives to foster an environment of mutual respect, to recognize the individual dignity of all students, staff, and faculty, and to ensure that all members of our community are included and supported, within the classroom and beyond.