Engage
Education

Safe Zone Training
LGBTQIA+ students can feel isolated or invisible on our campus; Safe Zone Training is one way to create allies with the skills, resources and information to help and support them. It is open to all students, faculty and staff. Since 2001, more than 500 people have been trained.
Programs
For Incoming Students
Running Start (Early Arrival) Program


Running Start (Early Arrival) Program: Offered by Inclusion and Diversity Educational Achievement (IDEA), Running Start is an early arrival program that begins with a four-day “pre-orientation” and continues throughout the year to support diverse first-year students. The program enhances students’ sense of belonging and prepares them for success. For more information about Running Start, email runningstart@sju.edu.
Running Start (Early Arrival) Program: Offered by Inclusion and Diversity Educational Achievement (IDEA), Running Start is an early arrival program that begins with a four-day “pre-orientation” and continues throughout the year to support diverse first-year students. The program enhances students’ sense of belonging and prepares them for success. For more information about Running Start, email runningstart@sju.edu.
Inclusion and Diversity Preview
The Inclusion and Diversity Preview, hosted by the Office of Admissions, gives students an in-depth look at the diverse environment Saint Joseph's has to offer. Prospective students can spend one night in a residence hall with a current student, attend classes and learn more about our support programs and areas such as the Center for Inclusion and Diversity and Inclusion and Diversity Educational Achievement.
For Current Students
-
The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program provides eligible students with employment during the academic year and in some cases, summer. In the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, students are responsible for developing programming that aligns with our diversity, equity and inclusion goals, as well as their own personal interests, in addition to general office assistance. Professional development opportunities are encouraged and supported. Open positions will be listed on Handshake.
-
Crossing the Bridge to STEM Success offers incoming first-year students from underrepresented backgrounds the tools and resources they need to succeed as a STEM major. Please contact us if you'd like to learn more about this program.
Academic Programs
Events

Center for Inclusion and Diversity Events
The Center for Inclusion and Diversity collaborates with on-campus organizations, departments or committees to promote inclusion and diversity through co-sponsored events.
-
Hosted within the first two weeks of the semester, the CID Open House is an opportunity for students to meet the staff of the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, learn about opportunities to get involved and mingle with current members of our student organizations. This is a high energy orientation and celebration with food, music and activities.
-
Held in the fall, the CID retreat allows for all students to come together in an atmosphere away from campus to “relate, relax and release.” Our sessions, many of them designed and facilitated by the students themselves, provide a space for fellowship, personal development and growth. Past retreats have taken place in Baltimore, M.D., Washington, D.C., Virginia and the Poconos.
-
Our affiliate-based student organizations plan events that are centered on educational, cultural, social and recreational themes. Previous events include the Asian Student Association’s Dumpling Night, the Black Student Union’s annual talent show and Bridging the Gap’s Taste of the World.
-
With a varied lineup of activities each year, this event celebrates graduating seniors who have demonstrated active commitment through participation in scholarship programs, leadership roles in student organizations and work study. Students receive kente stoles and participate in senior events such as cap decorating, midnight bowling, a photoshoot, trivia game and alumni panel discussion. The final event is a cookout that brings our students together as a community to share reflections with their peers and support networks.
-
International Student Orientation is held at the beginning of each semester for new F-1 visa holders and usually takes place the Thursday and/or Friday before classes begin. Topics covered during orientation include how to maintain legal immigration status, understanding the U.S. classroom, resources available at SJU and more. Attendance is mandatory for new international students.
-
Throughout the year, CID hosts and partners with various departments or groups to hold campus-wide programming and celebrations that are educational in nature. Previous events include Heritage Month Celebrations, Holi, Kwanzaa, Salsa Nights, Chinese New Year and the Drag Show.
Day of Dialogue
Saint Joseph’s second Day of Dialogue will be held on February 25th, 2021, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Day of Dialogue will continue to build upon conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion taking place throughout the campus community by providing practical, participatory and action-oriented sessions.
No classes before 7:30 p.m. will be held that day so that our University community will easily be able to attend in-person and/or virtual sessions throughout the day. Our Creative Works team has a number of interactive sessions planned including highlighting student works from the Departments of Art & Art History, Communications & Media Studies and English; printmaking, coloring and collage stations; and bringing back our Post-It Note Wall.
Learn More About Day of Dialogue
Diversity Lecture Series
Diversity Lecture Series is an award-winning program that began in 2001 and uses outside speakers to engage the entire campus community in conversations about identity and difference. Former speakers include Angela Rye, Kimberlé Crenshaw, John Quinones, Geena Rocero and Bishop Desmond Tutu. We encourage students and staff to suggest a speaker or visit our events calendar for the most recent schedule.
L.I.N.E.S.
Leaning Into New Experiences and Situations, or L.I.N.E.S., is a series of monologues inspired by real student experiences dealing with issues of identity, multiculturalism, diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. Each year, the performance is the result of a collaboration between students and staff. These performances will make you think and react and offer a space for you to have a real dialogue about diversity on campus. We encourage students and staff to submit a monologue or audition or request a screening and discussion.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 50th Anniversary Commemoration
Fifty years ago, on October 26, 1967, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered “The Future of Integration” to a crowd of students, faculty, staff and community members in the Alumni Memorial Field House on Saint Joseph’s campus.
Fifty years later, the University dedicated its 2017-2018 academic year to explore the ongoing impact of Dr. King’s lessons and his call to action through the theme “Our Destinies are Tied Together,” drawn from his remarks on our campus. The year-long celebration involved a series of programs to commemorate his historic visit, from exhibitions and teach-ins to a speech delivered by the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
Organizations

The Center for Inclusion and Diversity has nine affinity-based student organizations. There are also other diverse groups that provide a form of support for students of all backgrounds. These organizations also hold programs centered around educational, cultural, social and recreational themes throughout the academic year.
If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about our student organizations, contact Imani N. Briscoe, the Inclusion and Diversity Experiential Programming Specialist.
Affinity-Based Student Organizations
-
The Asian Student Association (ASA) aims to celebrate Asian culture with Asian and non-Asian students and offer an opportunity to learn, engage and build networks while maintaining a healthy community on campus. For more information, please email asa@sju.edu. You can also connect with ASA on Facebook and Instagram.
-
The Black Student Union (BSU) is an organization created to unite African-Americans and other minorities across the campus of Saint Joseph’s University, provide education of Black heritage and culture and assist in raising awareness in the campus community of the problems facing African-Americans. For more information, please email bsu@sju.edu. You can also connect with BSU on Twitter and Instagram.
-
Bridging The Gap (BTG) is a proactive and progressive organization that aims to promote awareness of ALL diversities and underrepresented lifestyles and ethnicities in order to create a more welcoming and accepting environment at Saint Joseph’s University. BTG strives to create a cohesive community amongst the student body, faculty, and administration to spread the message of unity and embrace the beauty and celebration of diversity with the support of the entire campus community. BTG will increase consciousness of the need for the celebration of all identities “bridging the gap” between people from all walks of life. For more information, please email btg@sju.edu. You can also connect with BTG on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
-
The purpose of the African-Caribbean Student Association (ACSA) is to unite all students of the Caribbean and Africa to create a sense of home away from home in the hope of bringing a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment to the campus community. ACSA on hiatus for the 2020-2021 school year, but if you’re interested in getting involved, please contact acsa@sju.edu.
-
Higher Destination (HD) Youth, formerly known as Expressions of Praise and Higher Destination Choir (HD Choir), is a student-led on-campus organization that aims to be a safe space for Christian students to worship freely and feel supported on their journey to follow Christ. HD Youth hopes to build a community representative of a collective Christian experience to ensure our students can find a spiritual home as they worship and build their relationship with God.
-
The mission of the Latinx Student Association (LSA) is to incorporate both Latinx and Non-Latinx students in programs and activities that will serve as a vehicle for the education and celebration of Hispanic cultures. For more information, please email lsa@sju.edu. You can also connect with LSA on Twitter and Instagram.
-
Formerly known as the Natural Hair Club, SJU Naturals is an organization that aims to promote wellness, self-care, and healthy self-image on campus. Our focuses are on nutrition, mental health, skincare, haircare, etc. We want to expand what the word “natural” means and to foster an inclusive environment. For more information, please email sjunaturals@sju.edu. You can also connect with SJU Naturals on Instagram.
-
SJUPride is an undergraduate student organization that strives to create inclusive spaces for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Ally people. All undergraduate SJU students of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome. Pride strives to create holistic experiences for all members of the LGBTQIA community. Pride works toward an inclusive understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity in the context of and as it intersects with race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, ability, socio-economic status, and culture. For more information, about LGBTQIA+ resources, visit here. You can also contact pride@sju.edu for more information and connect with SJU Pride on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Other Student Groups
-
Saint Joseph’s encourages all students to further their own spiritual growth and religious faith during their time at the University. Based on our Jesuit traditions, we celebrate religious diversity, encouraging individuals and groups to practice their own faith as they so choose. The Student Interfaith Organization (ISO) provides students with opportunities to participate in interfaith events, helping them grow in understanding in their own and others’ faith traditions. For more information, please email studentinterfaith@sju.edu.
-
The Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) encourages and empowers students who identify as female to be leaders wherever they may find themselves. We promote a safe gender-inclusive environment that fosters conversations about feminist issues. The initiative identifies and mentors female students who want to take an active leadership role. WLI members have the opportunity to plan events, coordinate guest speaker engagements and attend conferences and workshops that focus on the importance of women in leadership positions. For more information, please contact wli@sju.edu. You can also connect with WLI on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
-
Advancement in Diversity Stem (A.I.D. STEM) is a group that connects students of color who are involved in STEM programs to build a network for intellectual collaboration and engagement. Our mission is to cultivate a community where students are able to engage in a diverse scientific atmosphere and expose them to beneficial resources, such as workshops, conferences and shadowing and volunteering opportunities. We also connect students to Saint Joseph’s graduates who have excelled in their field. For more information, please email
-
- National Pan-Hellenic Council City-Wide Chapters
American Sign Language Club
Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting
Association of Latino Professionals For America
Irish Dance Club
Italian Club
Greek Club
Japanese Culture Club
Russian Club
Hawks of India
Saudi Club
Best Buddies
Food Recovery Network
Hawk Hub
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council for Alumni
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council for Alumni functions as a subcommittee of the SJU National Alumni Board (NAB). This group works in partnership with University Advancement and the Office of the Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to engage our diverse alumni in mentoring, event planning and strategic visioning.
Learn More About the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council