As part of Princeton University’s effort to combat systemic racism, the University has published its first annual report highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion work across campus. The report assesses how Princeton works to foster a diverse and inclusive campus climate; is supporting diverse faculty, teaching and research; and enhances its educational, economic, and community outreach. “The excellence of this University depends on attracting, supporting and embracing talented people from all backgrounds and with a variety of perspectives and viewpoints,” President Christopher L. Eisgruber said in his introduction to the report. Read the report here.

This issue of @princeton.edu features stories about ongoing efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus, a look back at Princeton University’s Nobel prize winners, and describes how students engaged in elections in New Jersey.

On-going Efforts to Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Opening Exercises on Sunday, Aug. 29, Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber welcomed the Class of 2025 and shared with them personal lessons of resilience, lessons drawn from his health struggles for facing moments of difficulty. He said "don’t be afraid to open up and lean on one another as you face challenges.” Read more.

Twenty years ago, Princeton made history by becoming the first university in the country to remove loans from its financial aid packages and replace them with grants that do not need to be repaid. The decision enabled students to graduate debt-free and opened Princeton’s gates to talented young people who would previously have found the University unaffordable. Learn more.

New Indigenous initiatives ushered in at Princeton

A land acknowledgment marker and memorial garden, an Indigenous student affinity space, and a fall seminar series welcoming leading Indigenous scholars, artists and activists to campus are among several new programs and initiatives at Princeton University honoring and acknowledging local and international Indigenous communities. Learn more.

ICYMI

The week of Oct. 4-11, 2021, was extraordinary in Princeton’s Nobel Prize history, with five new laureates from the University community. The recipients include Princeton University senior meteorologist Syukuro Manabe, Professor of Chemistry David MacMillan, Princeton alumna and New Jersey native, Maria Ressa, and Princeton alumni David Card and Joshua Angrist.

Princeton Uni

In October, Princeton University provost Deborah Prentice joined Governor Phil Murphy, Speaker Craig Coughlin, Rutgers University president, Jonathan Holloway, and leaders from Hackensack Meridian, RWJ Barnabas, and others at a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of “The Hub” — a NJ innovation center. Provost Prentice said that "Princeton University is committed to developing a robust and inclusive innovation ecosystem throughout the central New Jersey area that welcomes and benefits from the perspectives of New Jersey’s diverse residents." Learn more.

For Fall 2021, Princeton University’s Vote100 project partnered with nonpartisan organizations for the Be a Civic Leader training program open to college students studying in New Jersey. The program is supported by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, along with the New Jersey Department of State, Princeton University, Berkeley College and Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Vote100 leaders focused on engaging undergraduate and graduate students with elections in New Jersey and their home states. Learn more.

Environmental challenges have galvanized activity across Princeton’s campus in recent years like few other issues in our history. From physical, biological and applied sciences to art, architecture, psychology, policy and more, research groups across the University are tackling some of the toughest problems facing humanity with the fullest range of toolkits. Learn more.

Princeton University Podcasts and Upcoming Events

Tiger Prints is a podcast series highlighting tomorrow’s leaders solving today’s problems. The show features recent Princeton School of Public and International Affairs grads and their senior research projects. After four years at Princeton, these students are prepared to take the next step in their careers, with their theses serving as the foundation. Check out the latest episodes ‘Climate Change Creates a “Perfect Storm” for Migration’ and ‘Should We Police the Police?’

Endnotes is a podcast series taking listeners behind the cover and through the pages of books and publications on politics, policy, and more — all written by faculty at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). Check out the latest episode as Princeton University Professor Keith Wailoo discusses his book Pushing Cool: Big Tobacco, Racial Marketing, and the Untold Story of the Menthol Cigarette.

Engage 2021: Pri

Organized by Princeton’s Office of Corporate Engagement and Foundation Relations, Engage 2021 is a virtual conference, free to attend, and open to all. The program will zero in on the connections and skills needed to accelerate the impact of research and innovation on complex problems and will provide practical information and specific resources and opportunities you can use to advance your work. The program will step back and explore the big picture: How can Princeton and its partners propel the development of a robust and inclusive innovation ecosystem in New Jersey and throughout the region. Register here.