The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) at the College of Engineering & Computer Science (ECS) advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) to promote belonging for ECS students, staff, and faculty across the breadth of their identities.

For Students

Catalyst Scholars

Join our community of first generation scholars and future STEM leaders! Apply to be a Catalyst Scholar or peer mentor.

The Catalyst Scholars program promotes excellence in STEM studies by:  

  • Engaging an annual cohort of up to 12 first year, first generation college students to facilitate academic and professional success in STEM while promoting belonging at ECS 
  • Preparing future leaders to catalyze positive change in their fields of study 

Catalyst Scholars benefit from leadership and advocacy training, professional development, and peer mentoring- all within a close-knit community of first generation scholars.  

ECS Study Hours 

Fall 2024 semester details: Wednesdays, 6-9 PM, CST 2-211 

Each week, join your peers (and your trusty Academic Excellence Workshop facilitators) for a collaborative study session! Coffee and pastries are always provided.  

For Staff and Faculty 

Inclusive Excellence Council 

Comprised of staff and faculty from key functional areas across the College, the Inclusive Excellence Council coordinates and enhances DEIA efforts at ECS. The Council:  

  • Shapes institutional DEIA strategy by advising College leadership on DEIA priorities, strategies, and initiatives 
  • Supports College-wide DEIA integration by advising local stakeholders on College DEIA priorities, strategies, and initiatives and championing DEIA across the College 
  • Completes critical, College-wide DEIA projects 

If you have an issue or an idea for the Inclusive Excellence Council to consider, please send an email to ecsieoffice@syr.edu.  

Faculty Workshop: Teaching for Belonging in the STEM Classroom 

Inclusive teaching is more than a series of techniques; inclusive teaching is a mindset. Equitable educators continuously ask themselves: Who is being excluded by this approach? What can I do differently to invite more folks in? In this 90-minute workshop, participants will practice applying inclusive teaching strategies across a range of teaching scenarios. Participants will leave this workshop better prepared to cultivate belonging for their students- and for themselves.   

Teaching for Belonging is available upon request. Please email ecsieoffice@syr.edu to schedule this workshop for your department, organization, or group.  

DEIA Staff/Faculty Learning Communities 

Each year, the Office of Inclusive Excellence invites staff and faculty members across the college to participate in a collaborative learning experience centered on an emergent DEIA topic. Together, participants deepen their DEIA commitment, knowledge, and skills while building connections and community across the College.   

To suggest a topic for the 2024-25 DEIA staff learning community or for more information, please email ecsieoffice@syr.edu.