Statements/Reports

Diversity Statement
(endorsed by the Caltech Board of Trustees, faculty, and administration)

By accepting a world-class group of students, Caltech assumes the enormous responsibility of their education. Part of that responsibility is providing an environment that recognizes and reflects the diversity of people who make up American society. Caltech, then, must be responsive to the needs of a diverse community and reach out to include people of diverse ethnic, racial, economic and gender groups. We also understand that unless we can more effectively welcome and incorporate women and minority scholars, we will not be providing training for the full pool of potential talent.

To the end of assuring diversity, Caltech has long promoted policies of non-discrimination. But we also recognize that simply pledging non-discrimination is insufficient. We must make positive efforts to reach out to groups that have traditionally been underrepresented and who can enrich and be enriched by the Caltech experience. The full inclusion of groups that have experienced historic exclusion requires action--it is not sufficient to simply state the principle.

Caltech is undertaking efforts to make our environment increasingly responsive to the needs of minorities and women and to encourage more minority and female students, faculty and staff to join our community. We will examine our community for measures we can take that will encourage inclusiveness in governance and address particular needs (especially those of families). We recognize that we must be willing to modify our traditional assumptions to create a more welcoming environment. We will do this while keeping in mind our fundamental goal of academic excellence, recognizing that intellectual achievement is Caltech’s premier contribution to the world.
--David Baltimore, president