Cornell's Commitment to Diversity

Vice Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development

Welcome to the Office of Diversity & Faculty Development at Cornell University. Vice Provost Robert L. Harris, Jr. reports to the president and provost and leads on issues relating to diversity and inclusion, affirmative action, and equal opportunity. Our office provides information about diversity at Cornell and coordinates efforts to recruit and retain a diverse, world-class faculty.

Statue of Ezra Cornell, Central Campus

Our office develops and improves programs to reach and attract women and underrepresented minority applicants for academic positions. We also assist with and monitor academic searches to ensure that they are consistent with employment laws and that there is a good faith effort to have diversity in every applicant pool.

In order to attract and retain outstanding faculty and staff, Cornell offers job search assistance to spouses and partners of qualifying staff, faculty, and recruits. As part of the Dual Career Program, our office identifies potential academic positions for eligible spouses and partners. We also develop programs to enhance the retention of faculty, with particular emphasis on junior faculty and those from underrepresented groups. The Faculty Programs page includes links to university-wide programs, including faculty receptions hosted by the Expanding Social Opportunities Committee.

The Vice Provost assesses the campus climate for women and minority faculty by holding discussions with new, current, and exiting faculty and by analyzing statistical data on academic employment transactions (i.e., placements, promotions, and terminations). The office's annual report, Summary Update: Progress Toward Diversity and Inclusion, includes information on faculty, staff, and student diversity and is presented to the Board of Trustees each May.

Our office also processes applications for the Provost's Postdoctoral Diversity Fellowship.

Academic Recruitment

A commitment to affirmative action and equal opportunity constitutes one of the highest priorities of the faculty, the administration and the trustees of the university. The Office of Diversity and Faculty Development monitors academic searches to ensure that they are consistent with employment laws and that there is a good faith effort to have diversity in every applicant pool.

Most academic positions are filled using the formal search process, outlined in Academic Search Protocols. Search committees should contact our office and their Affirmative Action Unit Representatives for information on how to reach women and underrepresented minority candidates.

In special cases departments may apply for a waiver of search, outlined in Academic Search Protocols, to appoint a specific candidate. Any questions about posting and/or listing requirements should be discussed with the AAUR and our office. The approval of the AAUR, Chair and/or Dean, and the Vice Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development must be obtained before offering an applicant a position that has not been posted or listed.

Our office retains original records of search plans, waivers of search, and appointment confirmation and search summary forms for academic positions.

Contact Information

Office of Diversity & Faculty Development

449 Day Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-2801

Phone: (607) 255-5358
Fax: (607) 255-0134
rlh10@cornell.edu