NYU BeTogether serves as a guiding change effort to identify proactive and strategic actions to advance equity and inclusion best practices across NYU. That may include changing policies, developing new programs, and holding special events, among other innovations. Some recommendations may take time to be considered by relevant NYU partners and leaders, whereas others can be implemented more immediately. Here are some examples of recent developments that grew out of this work. Check back here often for updates.

Personalizing NYU Zoom Pronouns and Display Names

NYU IT and the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation and NYU Information Technology are proud to have collaborated with Zoom on a new pronouns field that enables NYU Zoom users—and users everywhere—to more easily add and personalize their pronouns. In the spirit of global inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access, the Pronouns and Display Name fields can be used to share pronouns and a chosen/preferred name—empowering each NYU community member to represent themselves to hosts and participants in NYU Zoom meetings and, in turn, be correctly referred to in the ways they identify. Enabling this personalization is one of several measures on NYU IT’s roadmap designed to provide an increasingly inclusive experience in IT services. Learn more about pronouns on Zoom.

Anti-racism and Microaggressions Module

In this two-hour NYU BeTogether online module, participants will gain a greater awareness of racial and other microaggressions, including those related to xenophobia, and engage with inclusive and anti-racist language, theories, and research. The module offers strategies for navigating microaggressions, including how to mitigate and address them when they occur, and for creating more inclusive environments. Learn more and access the module.

[Not So] Difficult Dialogue Series

The [Not So] Difficult Dialogue series is designed as a space for undergraduate students to address relevant and current issues connected to social identities while building skills for engaging in effective dialogue. Learn more about your social identities, connect to an understanding of self and systems, and refine communication skills and strategies.

Faculty Toolkit on Digital Inclusion

Digital inclusion requires evaluating student needs in remote learning environments, which are often also living spaces. The Faculty Toolkit on Digital Inclusion is designed with a commitment to examine how biases and assumptions that instructors may hold, as well as inequities and exclusive practices in the living and learning environment, impact students’ ability to thrive. Learn more and access the toolkit.

Pronouns and Name Pronunciation

Students now have the opportunity to add their pronouns, as well as the pronunciation of their names, into Albert.  Students can have this information displayed to faculty, advisors, and administrators in Albert, NYU Classes, the NYU Home internal directory, as well as other NYU systems.  Students can also opt out of having their pronouns viewed by their instructors, in case they feel more comfortable sharing their pronouns outside of the classroom. More resources on pronouns.

Faculty Innovation and Anti-Racism Microgrants

The work of anti-racism requires many minds working creatively on many fronts. To provide a springboard for new ideas and approaches, the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation and Office of the Provost have launched the NYU BeTogether Faculty Innovation and Anti-Racism Microgrants program in Spring 2021 to provide seed funding for research projects that work toward dismantling racism in its many forms. While the microgrants are faculty-centered, they may be used to support related staff and student research that contributes to anti-racism efforts across NYU’s campuses and global academic centers.

Best Practices for Inclusive Hiring

The NYU Strategic Techniques for Administrative Recruitment Success (STARS) Guide was developed by University Human Resources to provide resources for the recruitment of administrators and staff that can be embraced across NYU schools and units, enhancing the employee and candidate experience, and establishing best practices to ensure fairness, mitigate bias and foster a culture of inclusion. Through extensive benchmarking and consultation with peer Ivy Plus institutions, NYU schools and global sites, and external partners the guide outlines strategies for a consistent inclusive recruitment process from developing job descriptions to evaluating and selecting the ideal candidate. More resources for hiring managers.

NYU BeTogether Artwork

Pilot Foundations for Global DEI Excellence Module

This is a self-paced learning tool created to support a shared understanding of global inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access-related concepts and frameworks across all NYU constituents. We strongly encourage all our NYU community members to complete this pilot module and provide feedback that will be used in the develop a finalized version to be released AY2022—2023. The first part of the module provides general information, raises critical questions, and directs community members to vital internal and external resources at their disposal. The second part of the module covers content tailored to your role as a student, faculty, administrator, and/or staff. Learn more and access the module.