INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY INITIATIVES

Institutional Leadership and Commitment

Vision, commitment and leadership (by example) are essential for systemic change at the University of St. Thomas. Diversity and democracy challenge us to move beyond our individual and institutional comfort zones of assimilation to engage, understand and respect differences and similarities among people and cultures. An inclusive institutional vision encourages a nurturing and challenging intellectual and social climate for all members of the campus community.

Faculty and Staff Involvement

The Office of Institutional Diversity collaborates with Faculty Development  and the Leadership Academy as well as colleges and schools, departments, administrative units and committees/organizations to create opportunities designed to support faculty and staff in the areas of pedagogical change, curriculum transformation and cultural competency training. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in various diversity workgroups.

Diversity Assessment in the Curriculum

The Office of Institutional Diversity encourages ongoing  diversity assessment across university. One example is the Human Diversity Requirement Pilot Project which is an assessment of the undergraduate core curriculum's human diversity requirement. Our office works with Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Human Diversity Review Committee and other governance or committee structures to assess, review and recommend strategies to enhance diversity in the curriculum. In addition, OID works with the American Culture and Difference Program to increase the focus on pluralism "across-the curriculum" and in co-sponsored events. 

Student Development and Experience

The Office of Institutional Diversity actively seeks input from students on how to improve programming, diversity and inclusion at St Thomas. Through a collaborative relationship with Multicultural Student Services and several campus and community agencies/ organizations, our office works to create partnerships that build programs designed to address inter-and intra-group relations.

Campus-Community Connections

The Office of Institutional Diversity has a priority to develop campus-community partnerships. These partnerships include active commitments from employees and students who recognize their responsibility for participating in multiple communities (both on and off campus). There is a strong emphasis placed on working with local community leaders and organizations to problem solve and to offer community-based research opportunities.