This is a special committee as defined by the Engineering Constitution. It was created by the Dean in response to a request by several faculty who self-organized following their participation in a series of workshops focusing on race, cultural and gender issues in academia, especially within Engineering. Its mission is to provide leadership within the university and the College of Engineering to promote and achieve a culture in Engineering and Purdue that values cultural and gender diversity, as evidenced by the schools' attitudes, policies, and practices.