News
Diversity News
Stay current on what is happening in the Office of Institutional Diversity. This page will be updated with all communication from our office.
Campus urged to participate in conversations on climate study findings May 7
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. May 05, 2008We would like to acknowledge and recognize participation of the campus community in the 2007 Opinion Survey on Campus Climate and invite you to attend one of two community conversations on Wednesday, May 7.
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Opinion survey on campus climate updates; Global Lead Management to share overview of findings April 3
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. March 07, 2008The 2007 Opinion Survey on Campus Climate is nearing a close almost 11 months after Phase I: Quantitative (online survey) was deployed April 30, 2007, and Phase II: Qualitative (focus groups and interviews) were conducted in October and November 2007.
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Loftus Mini-Grants make impact on St. Thomas, community; Grant Cycle 4 proposals accepted until April 11
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. March 04, 2008The Loftus Mini-Grants announces its fourth call for proposals. The application will be available on the Office of Institutional Diversity Web site beginning Thursday, March 6, and will be due by Friday, April 11.
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St. Thomas community invited to participate in introductory orientation and facilitation workshop to anti-racism organizing
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. February 29, 2008I am excited that we are continuing to make progress toward educating the St. Thomas community about our extraordinary opportunity and special responsibility, as a Catholic institution of higher learning, to create and maintain a climate that affirms diversity of people as well as diversity of views. We have been intentional in many respects; however, developing a hate crimes policy and implementation guidelines is only one step in the right direction. We are now ready to expand the learning. As we harness the power of diversity, this office will continue to provide students, faculty and staff a university experience rich in perspectives and opportunities to learn from each other.
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McNair Scholars Program's student and faculty mentor information sessions scheduled; applications accepted through March 14
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. February 13, 2008Student information sessions will be held: Friday, Feb. 15 – 3-4:15 p.m. in Murray-Herrick Campus Center, Room 155 Wednesday, Feb. 20 – 5:30-6:45 p.m. in John R. Roach Center for the Liberal Arts, Room 126 (auditorium) Faculty Mentor information sessions will be held: Minneapolis campus – Monday, Feb. 18, 10:30-11:45 a.m. in Terrence Murphy Hall, Room 460 St. Paul campus – Monday, Feb. 18, 1-2:15 p.m. in O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center, Room 108.
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Six Diversity Leadership Awards Announced; recognition will be at Black History Month Gala Feb. 9
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. February 08, 2008The Office of Institutional Diversity will recognize campus initiatives and efforts that promote inclusion at the second Annual Black History Month Heritage Gala on Saturday, Feb. 9. The Diversity Leadership Awards were designed to recognize personal efforts, unique contributions and initiatives that go above-and-beyond expectations. It is important for us as an institution to visibly acknowledge people who enhance and promote diversity on the St. Thomas campuses and in the community.
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Cynthia Fraction named McNair Scholars Program assistant director; welcome reception set for Feb. 7
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. January 31, 2008I am pleased to announce the appointment of Cynthia Fraction as assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program. After a national search and a competitive and diverse pool of applicants, Fraction emerged to be the best person for this position. She began her duties on Jan. 15. Join me in welcoming her to the St. Thomas community from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in Murray-Herrick Campus Center’s Fireside Room. Light refreshments will be served.
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Scholarships available for graduate students, staff and faculty to attend 20th Multicultural Forum
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. January 22, 2008The Office of Institutional Diversity is committed to creating a stimulating, supportive, inclusive and accessible learning and working environment, based on mutual respect and trust, in order to assist all staff and students to achieve their full potential.
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Second Annual Black History Month Gala and Diversity Leadership Awards set for Feb. 9
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. January 14, 2008The Office of Institutional Diversity will host the Second Annual Black History Month Gala and Diversity Leadership Awards on Saturday, Feb. 9. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in the Schulze Grand Atrium in downtown Minneapolis.
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UST community invited to interview finalists for McNair Scholars’ assistant director position
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. December 18, 2007After a national search, the McNair Scholars Program Assistant Director Search Committee has recommended three from a diverse pool of more than 50 applicants to visit campus. Students, faculty and staff are invited to meet the candidates and attend open interview sessions of the finalists for the position.
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‘This is the real St. Thomas,’ Dease tells large crowd who attended march and forum
Bulletin Article November 02, 2007At one point, organizers of Thursday’s “Stop the Hate” march and forum were thinking of using Room 155, a relatively small meeting room in Murray-Herrick Campus Center, for their forum. Later, organizers decided they had better move the forum to the building’s third-floor lounge, which can accommodate a group of about 300.
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St. Thomas receives grant to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue a Ph.D.
Dr. Lawrence Potter, Jr. October 05, 2007The University of St. Thomas recently was one of six Minnesota colleges and universities awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant that is designed to help undergraduate college students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue a Ph.D. degree.
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Poet Lucille Clifton headlines second annual CommUNITY Week Celebration, Oct. 8-12
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. September 26, 2007I am pleased to announce that Oct. 8-12 begins the second annual CommUNITY Week Celebration. Our theme is purposeful: "Respecting, Affirming, and Valuing the Greater Mosaic." In the spirit of unity, a number of individuals, offices, clubs and organizations once again have come together to support programs designed to embrace the dignity of all men and women, and to celebrate the human mosaic and cultural diversity on our campus. These programs are intended to promote civility, community and collective responsibility.
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Initiative focuses on access and success for males of color in higher education
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. September 25, 2007This fall, I am happy to launch a new program, Black and Brown – We Are College Bound! An Initiative Focused on Men of Color in Higher Education. The Men of Color Initiative is designed to enhance the academic, cultural and social network for male students attending a college or university. The initiative will feature presenters and facilitators who will share their stories, host workshops and explore various topics that address specific issues facing young collegiate men of color.
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Campus climate survey goes online April 30-May 11
Dr. Lawrence Potter, Jr. April 26, 2007For the past 12 months, the President’s Office and Office of Institutional Diversity have collaboratively worked with Global Lead Management Consulting to identify goals, set timelines, develop a communication plan and process flow, design a survey instrument and provide plenty of opportunity for campus input in the climate study progression.
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Climate study to assist university in improving diversity, inclusion, productivity
Father Dennis Dease April 24, 2007Climate and diversity: Both words are integral to the social, academic and business landscape of America, redefining academic excellence, employee expectations and equitable practices. Now more than ever, as our world becomes more culturally and ethnically diverse, we must determine the effectiveness of University of St. Thomas programs to improve diversity, inclusion and productivity on our campuses.
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Diverse St. Thomas grads among private college alumni visiting high schools this week
Bulletin Article April 16, 2007Four University of St. Thomas graduates are among the 14 successful, diverse alumni of Minnesota private colleges and universities who will be on tour this week — visiting five high schools in five days and inspiring students to prepare for college.
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Thank you for helping to plan and participating in Black History Month
Karen Lange & Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. March 14, 2007In light of our historical mission and of all the exciting learning and programs, we realize that more needs to be done to strengthen the university’s modus operandi to effectively respond to and alert the campus community when malicious acts take place. In the coming weeks, the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Dean of Students Office will work in partnership with others on campus to develop a protocol for reporting hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents.
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The power of words and ideas
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. March 27, 2006College and university campuses are frequent targets of hate crimes and extremist views on issues of diversity and inclusion. Many times these issues include debates on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and/or social class status. Because of the extremist views, campus newspaper editors are challenged to handle the issues appropriately and responsibly. Reasonably, college and university campuses must create a balance in preparing students to recognize the diversity of differing viewpoints on these same issues.
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Scholar-Practitioner-in-Residence to visit St. Thomas
Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr. March 09, 2006I am pleased to announce the two-day visit of Dr. Orlando Taylor to St. Thomas on March 13 and 14. Dr. Taylor will be the first Scholar-Practitioner-in-Residence to kick off a new series program sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity.
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Hate crimes will not be tolerated at the University of St. Thomas
Father Dennis Dease March 06, 2006This university has a history of vigorously condemning hate crimes when they take place on our campus.
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