Philosophy Climate Committee
The Climate Committee at Rutgers Philosophy is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive academic community. Committed to ensuring that our department serves as an environment where all graduate students can thrive and achieve their highest potential, the Committee places a vital emphasis on welcoming and supporting individuals from under-represented groups in philosophy. Composed of both faculty representatives and graduate students, the Committee operates on a voluntary basis, welcoming new members each year and meeting regularly to advance its mission. To actively work toward its goals, the committee implement structural changes and organize a wide range of departmental initiatives. We warmly welcome and encourage colleagues from other departments to reach out to us, whether to learn about running similar initiatives or to establish collaborative partnerships for future equity and diversity work.
Our main initiatives include, but are not limited to, the following:
Annual Climate Lecture
We host an annual Climate Lecture featuring distinguished philosophers whose research engages deeply with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the discipline. These lectures are widely attended by the university community and are followed by an open reception and a private dinner with climate committee members, offering graduate students unique opportunities for close academic engagement. Past speakers include Professor Lidal Dror (Princeton University) in 2025, who spoke on conceptual amelioration, and Professor Julia Markovits (Cornell University) in 2026, who delivered a talk on praiseworthiness.
Annual Climate Survey
Each year, the committee conducts a comprehensive climate survey distributed to all graduate students in the department to assess the internal culture and identify areas for improvement. Following the data collection, the committee synthesizes the statistical findings with a qualitative analysis, contextualizing the current year's data against historical trends from previous surveys. Our faculty representatives then formally present these findings at departmental faculty meetings to facilitate transparent, actionable discussions among the faculty.
Minorities Group Dinners
To build solidarity and provide dedicated spaces for community-building, the committee hosts targeted networking dinners each year, including the Racial and Ethnic Minorities Dinner and the Gender Minorities Dinner. These gatherings offer a supportive, informal environment for students from marginalized backgrounds to connect, share experiences, and mentorship opportunities.
Anonymous Feedback Box
To ensure that every voice can be heard safely and comfortably, we have established an Anonymous Feedback Box located in the department's Flex Space. This mechanism provides a secure channel for members of our community to convey concerns, share experiences of discomfort, or report instances of injustice they have witnessed, allowing the Committee to remain continually accountable and proactive.