Mission

The scientific mission of the Institute for Social Research (ISR) includes the planning and conduct of high quality social science research, the dissemination of findings from this research, and the training of future generations of social scientists. We recognize that a source of strength is our institutional and organizational diversity and that this diversity is intimately linked to the very nature and quality of our scientific and training endeavors. Our goal is to foster an environment that enables and encourages all members of a diverse set of scientists, staff, and students to contribute their full potential to help achieve excellence in our research, public service, and training missions.

The ISR, therefore, commits to:

• promote actively greater diversity among its scientists, staff and students, including greater gender, racial and ethnic representation at all levels of the organization;
• foster an environment in which all employees and students are inspired to do their best, strengthened by their different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences;
• ensure that no employee's or student's growth, achievement, or advancement is hindered because of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, family status, or personal characteristics unrelated to his or her ability to complete job duties or coursework;
• hold itself to a standard of inclusion and opportunity that will serve as a model for the rest of the University of Michigan; and
• promote core values of equal protection, equal opportunity, equal access, and inclusion in all its actions and initiatives throughout the ISR Community.

We have adopted this Mission Statement because:

• We want to attract and retain the best scientists, staff and students by making every effort to increase the pool of diverse applicants.
• We want the benefit of different perspectives in conducting and disseminating the results of our research.
• We want to increase our potential, effectiveness, and creativity as a research organization by offering the broadest possible range of approaches to addressing issues and solving problems.
• We want to prepare our students to become leaders in an increasingly multicultural society and world.