Our Mission
The Office of Inclusion & Belonging is committed to meeting all students where they are, have been, and are going, providing equity for traditionally excluded identities, communities, and organizations: i.e., Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Latinx, LGBTQIA+, International, AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islanders), Religious, etc., and helping them to feel A.T. H.O.M.E. across campus.
- Accepted: Welcomed, Embraced, Advocated for, Acknowledged
- Together: Included, Connected, Unified, A part of the Community
- Heard: Understood, Believed, Seen, Supported,
- Open-Minded: Accepting of others, Curious, Empathetic
- Empowered: Equipped, Confident, Ready, Prepared
Our Vision
The Office of Inclusion & Belonging aims to build integrated, interactive, intersectional, and innovative ecosystems of student identity, equity, and well-being that impacts University culture, climate, and community. Through intentional programming, informative professional & policy development, and strategic student engagement, OIB is committed to staying aware of student needs, inspiring our stakeholders to do their work through a lens of Inclusion & Belonging and equipping our campus and community partners to see and serve the whole student with integrity and empathy.
OIB Three Core Pillars
Our People: (We are committed to making sure we)
- See the Whole Student: We acknowledge, recognize, engage, and embrace all of the identities, parts, areas, and layers that make up a student.
- Learn the Whole Journey: We take the time out to learn where students have come from, what brought them here, what influenced their story or perspective, and where they are headed.
- Work with the Whole Community: We not only serve/work for students, but we collaborate/work with them as well. We embrace collaboration and make sure our engagement is transformational rather than transactional.
Our Programs: (We approach our programs with)
- Intentionality: We think about the reasons why we do programs, who it impacts and centers, and it’s short- and long-term outcomes, before creating and implementing them. Intent always comes before content.
- Cultural Humility: We approach our programs and the lived experiences they hold with a posture that examines our own lens and biases with the goal of educating ourselves. Posture matters.
- Passionate Excellence: We bring energy, quality, passion, detail, imagination, expertise, and knowledge to our programs. We combine the head and the heart.
Our Purpose: (We ultimately aim to help students)
- Embrace: We help students embrace who they are and accept the diversity around them.
- Connect: We help students connect with others who are different from them and feel like they belong on Pitt’s campus.
- Empower: We equip and encourage students to be their authentic selves, use their voice and agency, during and post-college.