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Updated February 2025
Mission and Vision
The College of Communication works to support
DePaul's Mission to promote equal opportunities for all faculty, staff, and students. We strive to create a culture of inclusivity and respect for all people. Community members promote transparency, accountability, fairness, and integrity. We also will engage in the ongoing work of identifying and interrogating prejudice, injustice, and institutional bias.
Our college is committed to:- Taking the necessary actions to disrupt, and/or change norms and practices that work to uphold or perpetuate systems of prejudice and inequity in our college, our curriculum, and in our classrooms.
- Providing opportunities for development and training to faculty and staff.
- Reviewing existing policies, processes, and practices in support of equity and inclusion.
Goals and Action Plan
In 2020, the college developed a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) action plan, addressing practices and policies at all levels. Every year the plan is processed and reshaped through input from the college diversity advocate, diversity working groups, the DE&I faculty committee, our students, faculty members and staff members from across the college. The action plan addresses both short-term and extended goals. It remains as a living document that is continually added to, reflected upon and modified as needed in order to meet the changing needs of our college community and foster and promote a supportive, diverse and inclusive environment.
In the spring term of 2022, the college created a 3-year DE&I action plan, specifying the goals, objectives, and timeline for the initiatives proposed. The action plan is summarized below; for the detailed version of the plan, see: CMN 3-Year DEI Action Plan - AY23-AY25.pdf
To read about progress on the college's various DE&I initiatives, visit the Action Steps page.
- Support faculty and staff to lead and coordinate the activities of the current 3-year action plan
- Facilitate challenges of communication between the leadership of the college and the different college communities
- Implement best practices for recruiting a diverse faculty
- Ensure inclusive hiring and retention practices, supporting the diverse needs, identities and experiences of all our college community
- Build skills for identifying and managing personal bias and stereotypes in disciplinary decision-making
- Organize events for community-building
- Provide a student liaison to support student-related DEI activities
- Support student experiences in the college by facilitating channels of communication with their faculty
- Provide students with opportunities for discussion of diversity, equity, and inclusion matters outside of the classroom
- Empower students to communicate their learning interests and needs with their programs in the college
- Improve the programs and resources offered to students, aimed at fostering the success of a diverse study body
- Improve teaching competence in diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Encourage discussion and training for faculty and staff regarding issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and reaffirm DEI commitment across the college; build a shared vocabulary around the work of social justice
- Diversify voices and representation within course readings and materials in an ongoing effort to decolonize courses and disciplines across the college
- Mentor junior faculty in their advancement toward tenure
- Acknowledge and value DEI professional development activity in faculty annual reviews
- Acknowledge and value DEI professional development and activity for staff members in the college
- Ensure equitable and clear distribution of professional development opportunities for staff
- Support faculty and staff experiences in the college; help identify and discuss any concerns
Connect With Us
Diversity AdvocateCollege DEI Committee MembersCaffeine with the Dean
Connect with Dean Lexa Murphy to chat about ideas or concerns. Friday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom. Register for available dates and times.
Send us Your Questions and Feedback For questions or suggestions regarding current or potential DE&I initiatives in the college, we welcome your feedback!- Email: cmndei@depaul.edu
- Suggestion Box: Located at the College of Communication Loop office front desk, 12th floor, Daley Building (14 East Jackson).
College Resources for Students
Communication Student Groups- A number of student groups are available through the college, including some that are explicitly to support students from underrepresented groups. These organizations are open to everyone.
Free/discounted memberships to professional journalism organizations - With the help of a Vincentian Endowment Grant, the college is able to cover the cost of student memberships to a number of national professional journalism organizations.
College Scholarships - Students can apply for Communication-specific opportunities; most are available in the fall. Log on Scholarship Connect and enter ‘College of Communication’ in the search bar for current availability. Browse DePaul and external scholarships opportunities as well.
University Resources for Students
Comprehensive list of DEI resources for students at DePaul - This website lists many resources available to DePaul students, including student groups, offices, programs, internships, and scholarships.
- Career Closet
The Career Closet provides business attire for students who need clothes for interviews and internships. - Career Center
The Career Center provides resources on internships and job searches, including resume workshops and practice interviews. - Vincentian Emergency Assistance Fund
This fund provides one-time financial assistance to students in need. Not applicable for tuition, housing or books. - Resources for Homeless and At-Risk Students
Homeless is defined as a student who does not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. There are a number of resources available to students who do not have stable housing, including the Basic Needs Hub.
- Report an incident of discrimination or harassment involving a student.
Resources in Other DePaul Colleges