Commitment to Diversity

The University takes special pride in the diversity of its student body, faculty, and staff. At present, minority and international students make up more than 40 percent of our student body, and according to U.S. News and World Report, the University ranks 28th nationally in student-body diversity (out of more than 240 schools studied). Additionally, a review of U.S. Dept. of Education data in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, ranks the University 32nd nationally in the number of bachelor's degrees conferred upon minorities. But diversity at FAU is reflected by more than numbers. We celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures, customs, and heritage represented in the University community in a multitude of ways, from formal academic programs and lectures to clubs and social events.

At FAU, all people are respected. The University has a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of harassment and discrimination, whether or not it is expressly covered by law. The offices of Equal Opportunity Programs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, and the University Ombudsman all play important roles in maintaining an environment of fairness and safety throughout FAU's six-county service region in southeast Florida.

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, as a part of the larger university, will continue FAU's strong tradition of supporting and promoting diversity and inclusiveness. It is one of the college's guiding principles and the goal is to create a health workforce of physicians and scientists capable of delivering high-quality, equitable health care to all Americans and capable of eliminating health disparities, not only in our local communities but globally as well. To achieve this mission, the College of Medicine has created programs and policies to not only ensure the racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, but also the cognitive diversity of its students, faculty and staff. Specifically, the college believes that what constitutes diversity goes beyond race and ethnicity and also includes factors such as gender, educational background, individual achievement, research experience, non-traditional academic backgrounds, socioeconomic disadvantage, and other life adversity. The benefits of a diverse College of Medicine will be evident in the biomedical innovation generated by our students and faculty and in the high quality, patient-centered, culturally sensitive health care provided by our physician graduates.