Brandeis University

The anti-racism education page of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) lists several anti-racism, bias, and diversity trainings. Brandeis's "Introduction to Systemic Racism" is a brief, introductory workshop on the history and context of racism, particularly the "distinction between interpersonal racism and broader, systemic forms of racism." There are also several "Looking Inward" dialogues around race, of which the minority experience dialogues focused on discussion through the "lens of racialized disadvantage" and with the goal to "unpack the tensions of systemic and institutional oppression", while the white experience dialogue focused on discussion through the "lens of racialized advantage". ODEI also has a "Lexicon of DEI" workshop that introduces participants to the "ever-changing terms associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that informs the work of ODEI."

From January 10-11, 2022, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management had a 7-Day Anti-Racism Challenge, a workshop with content centered around anti-racism, decolonization, and inclusion.

In January 2021, the Heller School embarked on Dr. Eddie Moore’s 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge. Students signed up for a proseminar course called “Racial Equity: Intersections of Race, Power, Privilege, Supremacy and Oppression," which centered around Dr. Moore’s work while integrating lectures from Heller faculty. The challenge's purpose is to "engage in deep reflection and practical thinking on how to integrate racial equity into one’s life and career".

The English Department is hosting a speaker series called "Challenging Anti-Blackness in Literary Studies", with four events from February to April. The goal of the series is to "understand how race and anti-Blackness have structured the field of literary studies" and how the department curriculum could be reshaped "to attend more directly to these histories."

As part of the anti-racism plan, the Division of Humanities says that faculty and staff "must all take anti-racist training in pedagogy provided by the School of Arts and Sciences", so that its teaching, speaking and actions would be done "inclusively and with anti-racist intention".

Departments at Brandeis mandate that all faculty applicants write a “contribution to diversity” statement. The rubric for evaluating these statements penalizes any prospective faculty member who believes that “it’s better not to have outreach or affinity groups aimed at underrepresented individuals because it keeps them separate from everyone else, or will make them feel less valued.”

The University’s Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and anti-racist educator Kate Slater wrote a post on Instagram following the one year anniversary of the death of George Floyd where she states that she hates “whiteness” and that “all white people are racist.”

Brandeis University created a "whites-only" space for Caucasian students so they can learn how they "oppress non-whites". An economist filed a federal discrimination complaint.

On January 10, 2022, the university’s Heller School hosted a 7-Day Anti-Racism Challenge workshop.

The Pre-Health Advising Office partnered with the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) to host a monthly podcast discussion group called "Antiracism in Medicine" for the 2021-22 academic year.

The Faculty of Color Collective provides resources and opportunities for professional development and community building to tenure-track and long-term contract faculty of color at Brandeis' School of Arts and Sciences, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and International Business School.

The Heller School for Social Policy and Management houses the Segal Citizen Leadership Program in Racial Justice & Antiracism Learning Community. In 2021, Segal Fellows participate in a three-session fall anti-racism workshop series, additional workshops, discussions, and affinity/caucus spaces. This program is continuing into 2023.

Brandeis' Division of Institutional Advancement has an "Anti-Racism Plan Framework" that is broken down into three pillars: 1) mandates all IA staff to bear responsibility for ensuring that the division is anti-racist, 2) uphold DEI principles in planning and executing external programs, 3) ensure racial diversity within the IA staff.

The Black Action Plan (BAP) is a "bold student initiative" led by Sonali Anderson and DeBorah Ault that voices student input and directs what "necessary change" Brandeis might undertake to better meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff. BAP focuses on articulating and incorporating student concerns about the social environment on campus for Black and African American students. Many of the unit-based Anti-Racism Plans used some of BAP as reference.

In June 2021, Brandeis University's Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center (PARC) released an “Oppressive Language List,” as well as recommendations for more neutral language, in response to "anti-blackness" and in efforts to create a more inclusive campus. Commonly used words and phrases such as “rule of thumb,” “policeman,” “spirit animal,” “picnic,” “lame,” and “ladies and gentleman,” have been deemed oppressive by students and faculty within PARC.