"Northwestern University is deeply committed to student, faculty, and staff diversity - diversity of race and ethnicity, of gender and sexual orientation, of religion and geographic origin, of political perspective and economic condition. A diverse community is essential to achieve our mission of creating the best possible learning environment and educational experience, because only by exploring issues with people of different backgrounds and viewpoints can we challenge our assumptions, test our ideas, and broaden our understanding of the world.

A truly diverse community requires broad inclusion on our campus and the fostering of opportunities for interaction. We recognize, celebrate, and support groups that bring together individuals with similar experiences, and at the same time we encourage the formation of groups with people of a wide range of backgrounds. The diversity of backgrounds enriches the discussion at a residential college fireside chat and in the classroom, the interactions on an intramural athletic team and in the cast of a student theater or music performance, the friendships that develop in a new student week activity and at an alumni reunion, and the shared experiences gained in volunteering in the Evanston and Chicago communities.

Northwestern has made great progress in developing an ongoing culture of diversity, yet we constantly strive to do even better. Please take a moment to visit the following sites to learn more about diversity at Northwestern."

Provost Dan Linzer, 2009

Learn more about Northwestern's students, staff and faculty members and their engagement in the community. Open Minds Brochure (2.25MB) Diversity at Northwestern Faculty Diversity Committee 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration