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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office

At Bard College Berlin, we celebrate our diverse and rich community and strive continuously for a respectful, fair, inclusive, and appreciative interaction between staff, students, and faculty. The Bard College Berlin Gender Equality Plan provides a succinct overview of our commitments. 

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer is dedicated to facilitating processes to promote equity within the BCB community. The DEI Officer provides support for students from historically marginalized communities (including but not limited to those defined by religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, and dis/ability); organizes training, workshops, and other events to further an inclusive environment at the college more widely; manages the disability accommodations process; responds to queries and reports concerning diversity and gender-based misconduct; and advises the university leadership on policy regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our commitment

  • Generate Dialogue of Respect
    We embrace plurality, respect divergent viewpoints, and are committed to understanding the rich spectrum of experiences that make up our community. We firmly believe in upholding the value of critical thought and ethical engagement that this process necessarily demands. To accomplish this mission, we are dedicated to generating dialogue that fosters respect and collaboration between people from a wide field of backgrounds, talents, values, and passions.
  • Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment
    We are committed to creating a learning environment that cherishes the plurality of backgrounds, positions, and abilities of all members of our community. We strive for equity between them without ignoring their beautiful variety and include the voices, works, and ideas of communities and cultures historically marginalized in the academic world as well as the economic and political world.
  • Fighting Discrimination
    This commitment also means that we acknowledge societal dynamics that create biased and discriminatory mechanisms and behavior. Consequently, we are committed to counteracting discrimination, gender-based misconduct, or biases that might impact the learning process and development of members of our community.
Consulting
DEI Officer May Zeidani Yufanyi
Consulting

If you experienced discrimination, sexual harassment and/or violence, bullying, or stalking at Bard College Berlin, they will listen to you and offer confidential and, if desired, anonymous initial consulting. The DEI Officer will take you and your experiences seriously and can discuss with you further steps regarding official complaints, referral to external counseling options, or mediation if desired. 

  • Consulting is always free of charge and confidential
  • The perspectives of the person(s) concerned are in the foreground of the consulting and are not questioned
  • Consulting is provided at the DEI Office during office hours. If anonymity is desired the counseling can also take place via Phone or Email.
  • The consultant can accompany you in further desired steps to get advice outside the campus.


Disability Accommodations

Bard College Berlin is committed to providing appropriate accommodations for students with a certified disability in order for them to complete their program of study. In support of this mission, the College provides services and reasonable accommodations to self-identified students who present the appropriate documentation.

In order to avail of such services and accommodations, students are asked to complete the disability registration form and submit it along with the accompanying documentation. Students wishing to provide information in advance or discuss the disability registration process should email [email protected].  

How to Register a Disability

Resources

Workshops and Events 

The DEI Office regularly holds empowerment workshops and invites experts to campus to talk about their experiences and provide support.

Events
DEI Orientation for First-Year Students

Events

View All Events >>

FAQ

Contact

Contact

May Zeidani Yufanyi

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Office: Main level, K24
Office hours: Thursdays, 10:30 - 12:00 am and 1:00 - 4:00 pm
m.zeidani[at]berlin.bard.edu /+49 30 43733 0

Definitions

  • Diversity: differences among people in their gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, 
 race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, national origin, religious beliefs and identity, disability status and age. 

  • Equity: being fair and impartial and challenging and responding to bias, harassment, and discrimination against people 
from diverse identities and backgrounds. 
Both as a basic principle and as a course of action.
  • Inclusion: the practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or were historically marginalized.
  • Discrimination is the biased treatment of a person based on that person’s race, ethnicity, national origin, 
socioeconomic status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, 
gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, or political beliefs. 

  • Harassment is a form of discrimination consisting of physical or verbal aggressive pressure or intimidation of a person because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, or political beliefs.
  • Gender-based misconduct includes sexual and gender-based harassment, gender-based discrimination, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, and intimate partner violence. For a more detailed definition please go to Bard Annandale’s Gender-Based Misconduct Policy.
For a broader and more in-depth discussion about the definitions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion visit here >>

Campus Quick Links

Campus Quick Links

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