A guiding principle at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is our commitment to diversity. We believe in the value of working with and learning from those whose backgrounds and views differ from our own. At the Wisconsin School of Business we believe the participation of individuals from all walks of life enhance our learning and interactions. We believe our commitment to diversity is a valuable advantage to all who work and learn here.

The business world today faces intense global economic competition and profound social challenges unimaginable just a few decades ago. To remain competitive, businesses in the U.S. must utilize a workforce that is culturally and globally competent. In less than 50 years, the Asian American and Latino populations in the United States will have doubled. African American communities are projected to grow by more than 70 percent. These demographic changes will have seismic impact on businesses, government, and education. For example, Latinos’ purchasing power will have reached $1.2 trillion in 2011-exceeding the amount reported in 1990 by 457 percent.

In these shifting demographic and economic landscapes, it is crucial to prepare business students for the various markets in which their companies will compete-and to add value to those companies, as well. To do this, the Wisconsin School of Business commits to increasing diversity among its students, faculty, and staff. Diversity is the acknowledgement, acceptance, and appreciation of differences in personal characteristics including, but not limited to: race and ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic status, religion, geographic and national origin, sexual orientation, disability, and values.

Our goal at the Wisconsin School of Business is to diversify all program areas through recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff of varied experience, beliefs, and upbringing. Such diversity not only makes for an enriching experience both in and out of the classroom, but also encourages the creation of a befitting culture reflective of the world at large.

The Wisconsin School of Business is also a founding member of the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, a program that partners with leading corporations to promote inclusion in the American business world through an annual fellowship competition.