Dear UH Faculty, Staff and Students,

One year ago, on this day, University of Houston President Renu Khator established the Racial Equity and Social Justice Committee, in the wake of George Floyd’s death. The tragic passing of our Third Ward, Houston neighbor sent shockwaves through our community and the world. It further illuminated the inequities and injustices that Black Americans have long suffered.

UH stood with those in pain and for racial equity and social justice for all.

While we can take pride in being a University that is rich in diversity and one that values inclusion and freedom of expression, our responsibility goes further than that. We must understand, appreciate and act to bring change. The Racial Equity and Social Justice Committee is a University-wide group of faculty, staff, students and alumni tasked with helping to bring meaningful change to race relations.

Progress Report

The committee has made tremendous strides over the past 12 months. We have evaluated each college's and major non-academic unit's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; reviewed recommendations for improvement from the newly established Diversity and Inclusion Training Work Group, Freedom of Expression Work Group and Police Department Work Group; held select events, such as a virtual forum on criminal justice, trauma and policing featuring the Houston Police Chief; and made a dozen recommendations on enhancing the University’s racial equity efforts.

We invite you to read the full report of our activities and progress.

New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Webpage

While there are a wide array of robust diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at UH, many voiced concerns that there isn’t a central source of information for the various happenings. We heard you and developed a diversity, equity and inclusion webpage. The new website is a resource directory of the our many programs, studies, resource centers, trainings and initiatives.

We invite you to peruse the site and hope you become inspired, engaged and a change agent.

The University of Houston pledges to create a more just, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for all at our University and our greater community. We encourage you to join us in our quest. Together, we rise. Together, we soar.