Our Mission
The Office of Institutional Diversity's mission is to plan, lead and implement, in collaboration with university partners, institutional strategy and initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in all facets of Oregon State University. The work of the office advances more rapid progress towards Oregon State’s highest aspirations for inclusive excellence.
Inclusive Excellence Framework
The Office of Institutional Diversity conducts its work through an inclusive excellence framework, which is guided by the following principles:
- Welcoming and considering diverse ways of thinking, learning and working.
- Focusing on overcoming and removing barriers to access and success
- Counteracting unfairness and inequality
- Recognizing the importance and impact of social categories like race, economic class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, veteran-status and others
- Actively addressing dynamics of bias in policies and practices.
- Recognizing that every member of the university plays a key role in advancing inclusive excellence.
The Office of Institutional Diversity advance its work utilizing a social justice framework by:
- Raising awareness
- Creating opportunities for dialogue across different viewpoints
- Increasing knowledge and skill to advance inclusive excellence
- Building networks and partnerships
- Informing decision-making across the institution
- Monitoring and regularly reporting outcomes
History of the Office
On December 7, 2015, following the Student of Color Speak-Out, President Ed Ray announced the creation of the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Chief Diversity Officer position to focus efforts to advance Oregon State University's inclusive excellenc mission. Under the leadership of Scott A. Vignos, JD, since November 2022, the Office of Institutional Diversity partners with internal and external stakeholders to advance institutional strategies and initiatives to create an Oregon State community characterized in all it does by inclusive excellence.
Learn more about Oregon State University's recent efforts to build a more inclusive, fair, and diverse university:
- Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan - the university's strategic plan, 2024-2030
- Diversity Action Plan 2024-2030 - the university's diversity strategic plan
- Moving Forward Together: An initiative launched in 2020 to realizing the university's commitment to dismantle systemic racism through collaboratively working as faculty, staff and students to take action, consistent with the mission and the values of OSU.
Meet the current members of the Office of Institutional Diversity team.