Black Faculty & Staff Alliance
The Black Faculty & Staff Alliance is focused on the recruitment, retention, learning, and advancement of Black faculty and staff at the university. (Best for: faculty and staff)
Supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
St. Thomas is committed to providing a safe and supportive place for our students to live, learn and grow. It is our belief that we need diversity in order to have excellence. We embody our beliefs and they anchor our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all. We respect and value the pluralism of our community and we require that everyone here does the same. That starts with anti-bias training for all faculty, students and staff, but it doesn’t stop there. We have the heart, grit and resources (including our Intercultural Center) to make our campus, and world, better for everyone.
Resources Supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Ciresi Walburn Leadership Fellows
This cohort program is designed to address barriers to success facing Black male students with high financial need, with a preference to first-generation college students. It includes scholarship aid as well as mentorship, leadership development, and other supports. (Best for: undergrads)
Diversifying Minnesota's Teacher Workforce
The School of Education offers multiple programs that provide affordable and flexible pathways for prospective teachers of color to choose a career in education. (Best for: undergrads, grad students)
Diversity Activities Board
Organizes student-led events and activities in the areas of social justice, diversity, and inclusion. (Best for: undergrads)
Enlace
The mission of Enlace is to develop a network of faculty and staff within the St. Thomas community to promote the cultural diversity and professional development of its members, thereby creating a supportive environment for the Latinx community and contributing to the success of St. Thomas’s mission. (Best for: faculty and staff)
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence Award
A one million-dollar, five-year grant to change the culture of our teaching, learning, and governance within science and math education. (Best for: undergrads, faculty)
Inclusive Classroom Institute
Offers opportunities to build awareness, gain understanding, and implement new pedagogical strategies to improve the learning climate for all students. (Best for: faculty)
Interprofessional Center
Students from the university's schools of Law, Professional Psychology and Social Work advance social justice by providing professional services for underserved individuals and communities. (Best for: undergrads, grad students, faculty, staff)
National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD)
Provides support to enhance scholarly productivity and promote success for university professors with a specific focus on supporting faculty of color in predominantly white institutions. (Best for: faculty)
Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Provides leadership for building a more diverse, welcoming and inclusive community at St. Thomas. (Best for: undergrads, grad students, faculty, staff)
Racial Justice Initiative
Facilitates research, explores opportunities for community engagement, and sponsors critical conversations focused on history, race, and obstacles to progress. (Best for undergrads, grad students, faculty, staff)
Scholarships for Future Students
Multiple scholarship opportunities including several full-tuition scholarships. (Best for: undergrads)
Student Clubs
Builds networks of support through student-led groups promoting cultural awareness and dialogue. Search for one that matches your interest. (Best for: undergrads)
Student Diversity and Inclusion Services (SDIS)
Promotes student awareness and support for diversity, inclusion and social justice. (Best for: undergrads)
ThreeSixty Journalism
Inspires and teaches diverse Minnesota high school students to use multimedia storytelling to share the stores of their lives and communities. (Best for: high school students)
Working for Justice
Through the Center for the Common Good, engages the community in opportunities to take action. (Best for: undergrads, grad students, faculty, staff)
Action Plan to Combat Racism
Created in November 2018, the Action Plan to Combat Racism outlines a series of short- and long- term actions St. Thomas has committed to in its on-going efforts to combat racism. The plan addresses four broad areas:
- Support and stand with our students of color
- Teach, research and live inclusive excellence
- Send a clear message about our convictions
- Become a more diverse university
Anti-Racism actions and updates are shared on the President's section of One St. Thomas (login required). Public news related to the plan is shared via the Newsroom and shown below.
Anti-Racism Efforts from St. Thomas
August 23, 2023
Remembering the March on Washington 60 Years Later
The 60th anniversary of the March on Washington is Monday, Aug. 28. While many people hear about that day in the context of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, Dr. Yohuru Williams, the founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, says there’s so much more… The post Remembering the March on Washington 60 Years Later appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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June 14, 2023
March for Justice: A Decade of Impact
The work to repair racial injustice in America continues even beyond the 2021 designation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, say members of the University of St. Thomas community in Minnesota. “Juneteenth is a moment of celebration and thinking about the ancestors and our resiliency,” said Shanea Turner-Smith, an adjunct faculty member in the School… The post March for Justice: A Decade of Impact appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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August 24, 2022
In the News: Implicit Bias Awareness Training Offered by St. Thomas
The University of St. Thomas was mentioned in a USA Today article regarding the implicit bias awareness training the university's Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will provide to officers of the Brooklyn Center Police Department as a result of the agreement the suburban city reached with the family of Daunte Wright, the young man… The post In the News: Implicit Bias Awareness Training Offered by St. Thomas appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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August 24, 2022
St. Thomas Shows Support for Jewish Community
As students prepare to return to college campuses across the country, they’ll meet others from many faiths and cultures. The University of St. Thomas strives to be welcoming to people of all faiths. As a result, several university leaders came together to sign a statement of support for Jewish students, colleagues and neighbors. The statement… The post St. Thomas Shows Support for Jewish Community appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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June 20, 2022
In the News: Juneteenth must be a day of service and remembrance
Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, wrote an op-ed about Juneteenth that was published in USA Today on June 20, the day the holiday was federal observed this year. The full opinion piece can also be read on Yahoo! News without a subscription. Below is… The post In the News: Juneteenth must be a day of service and remembrance appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.