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The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering actively contributes to the ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ College of Engineering and Applied Science’s commitment to create a diverse environment and inclusive culture. We aspire to engage all members of our engineering community and to meaningfully and equitably support students, faculty and staff whose identities have historically been underrepresented, underserved and marginalized in engineering. It is only by valuing and respecting the merits of diverse cultural backgrounds and identities that we are able to facilitate innovative and inclusive approaches to advance scientific breakthroughs, launch new technologies and educate engineers capable of addressing societal challenges. We aim to contribute to greater equity and inclusivity in engineering research and industry by equipping graduates with the knowledge and tools to be effective leaders and innovators. 

Our department community and culture continue to evolve and adapt as we grow individually and collectively to be better teammates, learners, educators, researchers, colleagues and citizens. We welcome feedback and dialogue as we want all members of our community engaged.

As a department, we are committed to continuously advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in our community: 

• We strive to actively eliminate language, behaviors and structures that perpetuate inequities and bias toward marginalized populations, while recognizing that discriminatory and harassing behaviors have no place in our community. 
• We expect members of our community to recognize and speak up when witnessing comments and actions that may be discriminatory and harmful to others. 
• We seek to build awareness of inclusive and equitable practices and increase accountability as we grow toward being a more diverse and inclusive department. 
• We reinforce faculty, staff and student employees following the university’s policy for reporting instances of discrimination and harassment, in line with Don’t Ignore It.

Students, staff, and faculty with concerns about discrimination or harassment should immediately contact the instructor, the department chair, their academic advisor and the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.

We support the ongoing efforts from the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ campus, and the entire CU System to move forward in diversifying our communities, embracing equitable environments and incorporating inclusive pedagogies and practices throughout our interactions. To stay connected or to ask questions, follow up with the groups and contacts below:

• The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group acts as a connection point for DEI initiatives and activities involving mechanical engineering faculty, staff and students. Please contact janet.tsai@colorado.edu for more information. 
• The Committee for Equity in Mechanical Engineering (CEME) is a graduate student organization dedicated to improving graduate students’ experiences and outcomes, targeting underserved populations. CEME aims to be a supportive environment that encourages open dialogue on current methods used in the department and ways to improve these methods for recruitment and retention within the mechanical engineering graduate program.