Landing Page with Images

Task Force on Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

On June 24, 2020, the Tulane Architecture Faculty unanimously approved the creation of a Task Force on Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, with representatives appointed by the Dean from faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The task force was given the following five charges:

  • To facilitate a dialogue specifically about racial equity among faculty, staff, and students at the School of Architecture.
  • To identify and report historical data about racial diversity at the School and in the various fields represented in the School as a baseline for future reporting.
  • To identify an appropriate training program on racial equity for faculty and staff.
  • To compile existing University resources and support for racial equity initiatives and to gather ideas and examples from other Schools of Architecture.
  • To establish a framework for a potential Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The Task Force submitted their findings and recommendations through a Final Report last February 12, 2021, that the TuSA faculty and staff unanimously voted to adopt. You can view the full report as either PDF or TXT files.

The efforts of the Tulane School of Architecture are consistent with the overall goal of increasing and growing equity, diversity and inclusion across Tulane University as outlined by the Presidential Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

MORE INFO

Task Force FINDINGS

To establish a series of baseline or reference data points, the Task Force attempted to compile demographic data on students, faculty, and professionals nationally and across all major academic programs in the School. In reviewing this internal data, and focusing specifically on Black students in this initial effort, the Task Force identified three key trends to serve as important context for the ongoing work towards racial equity at TuSA:

1. TuSA is not graduating alumni that reflect the racial demographics of the United States.

According to data from the U.S. Census, from 2000-2020, roughly 14% of the U.S. population ages 20-34 identified as “Black or African American.” At TuSA during this same timeframe, Black or African American graduates represented just 3% of undergraduates and 6% of graduate students.

2. The percentage of undergraduate Black TuSA graduates has remained flat or declined slightly over the past 20 years.

In its report, the Task Force collected data on the number of actual TuSA graduated students identifying as Black, versus the number that would have graduated in a given year if our alumni reflected the national demographics. The resulting blue area shows the gap, or "missing," Black graduates referenced above.

3. Black TuSA students change majors or otherwise drop out of Architecture at twice the rate of all other undergraduate students.

Task force recommendations

Advocate & Mentor: Establish a new senior administrative faculty role at TuSA to serve as an advocate, advisor, and mentor specifically for the voices of BIPOC students in all programs.

Design & Plan: Charge each academic program at TuSA to develop a report and strategic plan for advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in their respective programs.

Measure Success: Establish a standing faculty committee to review progress and benchmark the successes of TuSA’s long term efforts to advance racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Be Transparent: Build out REDI content for the TuSA website and share our journey through TuSA communications and social media efforts.

Be Accountable: Establish an Alumni Accountability Board on Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

The Task Force submitted their findings and recommendations through a Final Report last February 12, 2021, that the TuSA faculty and staff unanimously voted to adopt. You can view the full report as either PDF or TXT files.