The 鶹ýhas a long-standing commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, from early initiatives in the mid-20th century through more contemporary actions.
In 2001, the 鶹ýBoard of Regents published its first diversity commitment statement, which was updated in 2018. Two years later, the 鶹ýCommittee on Ethics and the Board of Regents issued a call to action that recognized racism as “a public health crisis, resulting in health care inequities” and asked "members of the organization to treat all patients—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual preference—with compassion, skill, and fidelity,” as .
Also in 2020, 鶹ýleaders promptly moved to ensure that their stated commitments had corresponding actions to produce intended outcomes. The 鶹ýBoard of Regents appointed a Task Force on Racial Issues, which issued its report and recommendations in November 2020. A key recommendation was creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.