OSDEI's research is both internal and external. We request and review data and other information relating to the College and other colleges throughout the world to inform our understandings of how Amherst measures up to peer institutions and to inform our advocacy of how our campus ought to be. This shift from the empirical to the normative allows us to work with the College to help create the best possible experience for students both here and yet to come. This year, our research team is spearheaded by Andrew Leung '23E, Sika Essegbey '23, and Diego Duckenfield-Lopez '24. If you have any ideas or suggestions for things to look into please reach out to them personally or to our e-mail at osdei@amherst.edu.
Active Research Projects
Some of the current research projects are linked below. We have also linked information available throughout the College's website that may be of interest. Again, if you have an interest in any of these projects, please do not hesitate to reach out!
- Colleges and Universities that Graduate More Racially Diverse Students from their Communications Departments
- Free Speech and First Amendment on College Campuses
- Important note: On Tuesday, December 15, 2021, this research in conjunction with advocacy from the Amherst College Black Student Union and OSDEI led to the faculty voting to change our campus free speech policies. You can read more about it here.
- Schools Who Have Ended Legacy Admissions
- Schools and Contacts with Restorative and/or Racial Justice Programs
- Schools with Students on their Board of Trustees
Additionally, on June 24, 2020, a set of data was requested. It is accessible on the broader ODEI website, quoting the latter, "[t]he Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is committed to annualized collection and analysis of data that most directly historically marginalized communities. Over time, we will share important information about how our faculty, students, and staff enter into and move within the Amherst community such that their experiences corroborate the college's priorities and commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion."