Spring Break
An Introduction to the Joint Committee on Diversity
So what is the Joint Committee on Diversity (JCD)? A Quick Guide for the Curious.
Charles de Segundo (OB), Contributing Writer
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News
Few of us will ever get to study or work in a place nearly as diverse as HBS: 1,800 students, scores of nationalities and countless points of views. The JCD tries to ensure that the benefits of that diversity are widely enjoyed. So where did the JCD come from, what does it do, and who is involved?
In the spring of 2005, student representatives from the African American Student Union, Latin American Students Association, Asian American Business Association, South Asian Business Association, Jewish Students Association, Islamic Society, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender Student Association and the Women's Student Association gathered as a "Diversity Council" to discuss diversity at HBS. The purpose was to provide a forum for student leaders to discuss the challenges their members face here at HBS and brainstorm ways to make the business school more inclusive.
What emerged from the discussions was a consensus that although HBS is an amazingly diverse place, many people here struggle to feel included in the community, both inside and outside the classroom. For example, some students who were openly gay before coming to HBS opt to keep their sexual orientation private upon arrival at the business school.
To address these concerns, AASU, LASO, LGBTSA and the Leadership & Values Initiative partnered with the administration to create the Joint Committee on Diversity (JCD).
During the past three years, the JCD has found its unique voice on campus. Its vision is "to change the culture of HBS so that all students feel included, safe and valued within the HBS classroom and community." It is comprised of six students who work with the administration to make HBS more inclusive. Last year's committee ran a survey to identify the most pressing diversity issues experienced by students on campus. The core message from the results was that there were a significant number of students who felt unable to fully be themselves on campus. Consequently, this year's JCD determined that "Come As You Are" would be its overriding theme.
In the spring of 2005, student representatives from the African American Student Union, Latin American Students Association, Asian American Business Association, South Asian Business Association, Jewish Students Association, Islamic Society, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender Student Association and the Women's Student Association gathered as a "Diversity Council" to discuss diversity at HBS. The purpose was to provide a forum for student leaders to discuss the challenges their members face here at HBS and brainstorm ways to make the business school more inclusive.
What emerged from the discussions was a consensus that although HBS is an amazingly diverse place, many people here struggle to feel included in the community, both inside and outside the classroom. For example, some students who were openly gay before coming to HBS opt to keep their sexual orientation private upon arrival at the business school.
To address these concerns, AASU, LASO, LGBTSA and the Leadership & Values Initiative partnered with the administration to create the Joint Committee on Diversity (JCD).
During the past three years, the JCD has found its unique voice on campus. Its vision is "to change the culture of HBS so that all students feel included, safe and valued within the HBS classroom and community." It is comprised of six students who work with the administration to make HBS more inclusive. Last year's committee ran a survey to identify the most pressing diversity issues experienced by students on campus. The core message from the results was that there were a significant number of students who felt unable to fully be themselves on campus. Consequently, this year's JCD determined that "Come As You Are" would be its overriding theme.
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