As a language department, we recognize our unique position in the work of promoting openness and intercultural understanding. We see these values as central to the broader work of fostering a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, both in our classrooms and beyond. Here at UC Berkeley, we are dedicated to promoting the study of French in a way that provides a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, the vast linguistic and cultural diversity of the Francophone world. Joining our community, you will find courses that center the work of women and minority authors; you will hear talks and invited lectures that challenge and move beyond one-dimensional notions of French-ness; and you will encounter instructors and scholars committed to putting our teaching, research, and institutional practice to work in the fight for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive intellectual community.

We see it as imperative that students and colleagues of all backgrounds and identities feel welcome in our curriculum, in our classrooms, and in our community. We view the complex intersection of different identities as a strength, and we celebrate the richness of the community that those identities help to create. Together, we are committed to actively incorporating inclusive practices and a respect for the complexity of identity formations into our curriculum.

We further recognize the role that structural and historical inequalities continue to play in determining who enters and feels at home in our field of study and we are united in our determination to support students and colleagues from historically underrepresented populations as they make their way in our field.

We are committed to building a diverse community through equitable representation and participation such that all individuals feel valued, treated fairly, and empowered to exercise their own agency in the classroom and elsewhere. Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) is a dynamic, fluid, and ongoing process. It is as much a daily practice as a long-term, collective, and institutional project that often requires substantial changes in policies and practices (especially with respect to curriculum and mentoring). This means in part unlearning harmful preconceptions, practices, and attitudes, and learning new ways of understanding language, history, and culture. We view this commitment to DEI as a societal imperative. It is an investment in our students, in their futures, and in the more inclusive society they are already building.