diversity as a core value

Diversity is one of the core values of our program. This value is reflected in the faculty and student research that spans cultural diversity, demographic diversity, gender diversity, immigration, and LGBTQ issues in the workplace. Our faculty is widely recognized for its contributions to promoting diversity in the workplace through research and practice. These efforts have been acknowledged by the major professional associations of our field:

  • SIOP with faculty winning the M. Scott Myers Award for Applied Research in the Workplace, the Bray and Howard Research Grant, and the Adverse Impact Reduction Research Initiative and Action Grant.

  • Academy of Management with faculty winning the Sage Award for Scholarly Contributions to Gender and Diversity.

  • International Personnel Assessment Council with faculty winning the Innovation in Assessment Award.

Fall, 2018 Brownbag Meeting

Diversity is also reflected in the composition of our doctoral student body. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and from all over the globe. We collectively work to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all of the members of our community.

Baruch College and the Graduate Center have a long history of fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion. In fact, the City University of New York (CUNY) has a legislatively mandated mission (New York state education law, Article 125, Section 6201) to be “of vital importance as a vehicle for the upward mobility of the disadvantaged in the City of New York … [to] remain responsive to the needs of its urban setting … [while ensuring] equal access and opportunity” to students, faculty and staff “from all ethnic and racial groups” and without regard to gender. The Graduate Center is home to more than 30 research centers and institutes, many of which are devoted to addressing through their research and events issues affecting diverse and underrepresented populations. Inside Higher Ed, listed the Graduate Center as one of the top ten institutions for awarding doctoral degrees to members of unrepresented minority groups. As of 2017, the Graduate Center doctoral student population in the social sciences was 61.70% European (including Eastern European) Caucasian; 10.9% Black or African-American; 17.30% Hispanic or Latino; 7.6% Asian or Pacific Islander; 2.40% two or more races; and less than 1% American Indian Native Alaskan. Females comprise 61.60% of the doctoral student population.

For those interested in conducting research on diverse and underrepresented populations, Baruch College provides unique research opportunities. The majority of Baruch undergraduate students are immigrants or children of immigrants (168 countries represented).  Approximately 32.3% of the students at Baruch are from European Caucasian backgrounds (including Eastern European backgrounds), 10.1% are Black, 13.2% are Hispanic, 30.6% are Asian or Pacific Islander; less than 1% are American Indian or Native Alaskan and 12.3% are international students. The U.S. News Best Schools has ranked Baruch College in the top five of the most ethnically and racially diverse colleges for the past nine years. Other groups, such as Diverse magazine, the Opportunity of Equality Project, and the Chronicle for Higher Education, have placed Baruch College near the top of their lists of the most diverse colleges and colleges that promote upward social mobility.

Baruch also reflects the socioeconomic diversity of New York City. The majority of Baruch’s undergraduate students attended New York City’s public schools and many come from underserved communities with limited financial means.  For example, about 40% of Baruch undergraduate students come from families with household incomes of $25,000 or less; 67% come from families with household incomes of $50,000 or less; and 55% of students maintain full- or part-time jobs while in college. Baruch undergraduate students are often the first in their family to attend college and as of 2015, 35% of Baruch undergraduate students were the first in their family to achieve this milestone.  Baruch has been recognized as one of five institutions of nearly 1,200 colleges and universities educating low-income students.