Mills College
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Mission The Mills College Diversity and Social Justice Committee (DC) promotes diversity and social justice within every aspect of the academic, co-curricular, residential, and administrative life of the College. To that end, the DC works to create proactive, sustainable strategies to generate and institutionalize attention to diversity in relation to race, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, religious, and spiritual beliefs, class, age, color, sexual orientation, ability, immigrant status, and national origin. The DC also works to address inequalities arising from any differential distribution of power, resources, and privilege at Mills, and to support initiatives that enable students, faculty, and staff to engage in social change leading to a more just and inclusive society. Diversity and Social Justice Statement Mills College embraces diversity and social justice as key components of academic, co-curricular, and residential life. The College encourages every member of our community to embrace this vision and to work to attract, support, and retain students, faculty, and staff who reflect the diversity and social justice values of Mills. Diversity refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from race, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, religious and spiritual beliefs, class, age, color, sexual orientation, disability, immigrant status, and national origin. Social justice refers to a commitment to challenging social, cultural, and economic inequalities imposed on individuals arising from any differential distribution of power, resources, and privilege at Mills and in the larger society. Since its founding, Mills College has remained committed to empowering women to overcome the social barriers that have excluded them from educational and career opportunities. In the 20th century, Mills recognized the importance of extending this access to women from diverse backgrounds, including resumer women, parenting students, and first-generation college students. In addition, Mills graduate and professional programs are designed to provide a coeducational environment that values women's leadership and promotes gender equality. Because the College aims to educate all students to acquire the knowledge and skills to effect thoughtful changes in a global, multicultural society, we seek to create opportunities for engagement in activities that promote equity and justice. Mills honors freedom of expression and respectful discourse as fundamental educational cornerstones. We recognize that students learn best in an environment that is safe for disagreement, recognizes and addresses diverse learning styles, and values holistic growth and wellness. Mills recognizes that diversity and social justice are inextricably linked to academic excellence and innovation. Critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and collaboration are all enhanced when a diverse faculty and student body interact and learn from one another. By offering a traditional liberal arts curriculum while engaging new pedagogies and diverse perspectives, Mills provides a transformative educational experience that prepares students for excellence and effective leadership in their careers, professions, and in graduate education.

Programs implemented and planned include workshops on transgender inclusion practices, a listening session for students to share their experiences with faculty, a campus forum on our journey from a diverse community to an inclusive community, and a panel discussion on social change through student activism. Student activities and trainings have been held regarding topics such as "White Privilege", "Parallel Identities", "Undocumented Students", "Race & Class", "Black Lives Matter", "Gender Expression in the Workplace", "Ferguson Dialogue", and "Art & Activism". Mills College has also partnered with other institutions (UC Berkeley and Holy Names) for activities such as "Sustainability & Class", "Sustainability & Social Justice: Race, Gender, & Sustainability", and the Social Justice Forum Conference.