Community Values

CCAS is committed to fostering an environment that is inclusive of all groups and to elevating diverse voices, especially Arab world perspectives, through our curriculum, events, and programming. We work with colleagues in other departments and programs (e.g., ACMCU, African Studies Program, Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Gender Justice Institute), as well as with a variety of institutions in the Washington, D.C. area, to organize events and educational opportunities that provide a range of viewpoints. At CCAS, we approach admissions through a holistic approach, cognizant that the diverse experiences and backgrounds of our students is one of our greatest strengths.

Following events in the United States and around the globe in the summer of 2020, the CCAS community also publicly addressed its “Commitment to Combat Racism”. As articulated in this statement, CCAS re-committed to adopting policies within our programs, as well as through our engagement beyond Georgetown, that proactively address the systemic barriers that have at times excluded marginalized groups from our program, school, and the broader field of Middle East Studies. CCAS faculty have participated in a process of syllabi and curricula review to identify areas where perspectives can be diversified, ensuring that a range of experiences and expertise about the region are included in content and in the classroom. We offer a variety of courses, events, and programming that engage with the breadth of experiences in the region, with an attention to the racial, ethnic, linguistic, geographic, religious, and gendered identities that shape the Arab world. CCAS empowers students to create community and accountability through creating student-led programming, such as community values orientations, mentorship programs, and CCAS-specific climate surveys.

In sum, we strive to create an environment for learning that is inclusive and respectful of the range of experiences and backgrounds that make up our community, and the region we study, and we continue to educate for ethical engagement with the region.